British retail sales fell 0.4 per cent in September, far exceeding the 0.1 per cent decline forecast by economists, official data showed on Friday, as unseasonably warm weather dampened demand for autumn clothing and cost of living pressures began to bite. The figures come alongside a sharp drop in UK consumer confidence, the fastest since the Covid pandemic, and global market turmoil driven by growing fears over AI stocks and rising oil prices, clouding the outlook for Chancellor John Healey's budget next week.
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Great Britain
Island comprising England, Scotland and Wales