Retail sales slowed last month as household budgets were squeezed by high interest rates and inflation.
Sales grew by 2.5% on an annual basis in October, according to figures compiled by the British Retail Consortium and KPMG. That is the second slowest increase this year and is well below the rate of inflation, meaning consumption contracted in real terms.
The sales growth rate slipped from 2.7% in September and was below a rolling three-month average increase of 3.1%.