Online Retail Surges as Gold and Tech Purchases Defy Economic Concerns
British online retail sales surged in September 2025, defying economic forecasts with a 0.5% monthly increase. The growth was reportedly driven by strong demand for gold jewellery as a safe investment and major tech product launches including Nintendo’s Switch 2 and Apple’s iPhone 17.
Unexpected Retail Growth Defies Economic Forecasts
British retail sales demonstrated unexpected resilience in September 2025, with monthly sales volumes rising by 0.5% according to new figures from the Office for National Statistics. This performance notably surpassed the anticipated decrease of -0.2%, offering a positive signal amid ongoing concerns about the UK’s economic slowdown. The report indicates that between July and September, overall retail sales volumes were 0.9% higher than the previous three months, suggesting a gradual recovery in consumer spending.