Rachel Reeves’ gloomy Budget uncertainty sparks slump in retail sales | Politics | News [Video]

Rachel Reeves’ Budget uncertainty sparked a slump in British retail sales, according to new data from the ONS that further undermine her claims of economic stability.

The statistics body reported that retail sales fell by 0.8% month on month in October, and revised down their September figure from 0.3% to just 0.1%.

Clothing and footwear shops bore the largest brunt of the dip, falling by 3.1% in October, as consumers held off purchases over fears that the Budget would clobber their finances.

The fall ended three months of continuous consumer growth.

Hannah Finselbach, senior statistician at the ONS, reported: “Retail sales fell back in October following three months of growth.”

“The fall was driven by a notably poor month for clothing stores, but retailers across the board reported consumers held back on spending ahead of the Budget.”

Figures did show a rise in consumer confidence following the Ms Reeves’ Budget, suggesting relief among the public that they haven’t been hit by …