UK retailers endure ‘drab December’ as non-food sales fall flat

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 3 min read 100% complete by Lauren AlmeidaJanuary 13, 2026 at 06:00 AM

AI Summary

medium article 3 min

UK retailers experienced a disappointing December, with overall sales growth slowing to 1.2%, below the 12-month average. The British Retail Consortium reported that non-food sales declined by 0.3% compared to the previous year, while food sales remained more resilient, boosted by rising prices and grocery inflation. Shoppers spent more in supermarkets, but many plan to cut back on grocery and discretionary spending in the new year. Discount supermarkets Aldi and Lidl reported strong Christmas sales, while major supermarkets Tesco and Sainsbury's saw sales growth but underperformed investor expectations. Card spending also dropped, indicating a cautious consumer approach during the holiday season.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Argos 40% Worldpanel by Numerator 50% Sainsbury's ×250% Tesco 50% Aldi ×260% Helen Dickinson 60% Barclays ×260% Lidl ×260% UK ×370% British Retail Consortium ×280%

Keywords

retail sales 90% christmas sales 80% non-food sales 80% food sales 70% consumer spending 70% grocery inflation 60% high streets 60% uk retailers 60% boxing day sales 50% discounting 50%