Retail sales hit lowest level since 2021 lockdowns

Shoppers bought less fuel and food in October as they were hit by rising living costs and poor weather, according to official figures.

The volume of products sold last month fell by 0.3% to the lowest level since February 2021 when large parts of the UK were in Covid lockdowns.

Retail sales had widely been expected to grow in October.

The Office for National Statistics said petrol and diesel sales may have been "affected by increasing fuel prices".

Demand for other goods was also lower, said the ONS.

"It was another poor month for household goods and clothes stores with these retailers reporting that cost of living pressures, reduced footfall and poor weather hit them hard," said Heather Bovill, deputy director for survey and economic indicators at the ONS.

During October, Storm Babet hit much of the UK resulting in "exceptional rainfall", according to the Met Office.