Office for National Statistics said, the quantity bought in October 2019 fell by 0.1% when compared with the previous month, with only fuel and department stores reporting growth. Economists had expected a 0.2% increase.

Year-on-year growth in the quantity bought increased by 3.1% in October 2019, with growth across all sectors except household goods stores. Economists had expected a 3.7% increase

Online sales as a proportion of all retailing increased to 19.2% in October 2019, from the 19.0% reported in September 2019.

In the three months to October 2019, the quantity bought in retail sales increased by 0.2% when compared with the previous three months; this is the lowest growth since April 2018. Food stores were the only main sector to see growth (0.8%) in the three-month on three-month series.