UK retail sales weaken in August, CBI says

LONDON, Aug 26 (Reuters) – British retail sales weakened in August after their strongest performance in six months in July, although stores expect a recovery in September, a monthly survey from the Confederation of British Industry showed on Wednesday.

The CBI’s headline sales volume balance — based on retailers’ assessment of sales volumes compared with a year earlier — fell to a two-month low -48 in August from -26 in July.

“Retail firms grew more downbeat in August as they grappled with sharply falling sales volumes. These weak trading conditions, which were echoed across the broader distribution sector, continued to weigh on retailers’ investment and hiring plans,” CBI Lead Economist Martin Sartorius said.

• Sales expectations for September point to a pickup to -22, the strongest expectations since March

• Sales for the time of year in August fell to a two-month low of -26 from -18 in July

• The CBI’s quarterly business situation balance fell to -29 in August from -15 in May

• Investment intentions rose to -16 in August from -52 in May, their strongest since February 2024

• Retailers shed jobs at the slowest pace since November 2025

• The survey was based on responses from 58 retail chains between July 27 and August 13

(Reporting by David Milliken, Esditing by Paul Sandle)