<p>Latest negative economic update comes as John Healey is due to announce budget next week</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/live/2026/oct/23/global-stocks-fall-ai-fears-grow-british-retail-sales-fall-business-live-latest-news">Business live – latest updates</a></p></li></ul><p>Retail sales in Great Britain fell more steeply than expected last month, the latest negative economic update before the chancellor, John Healey, announces his budget next week.</p><p>The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the volume of goods sold fell 0.4% month on month in September, much steeper than economists’ consensus expectations of a 0.1% fall.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/oct/23/retail-sales-in-great-britain-fall-as-struggling-households-cut-back">Continue reading...</a>