Food sales growth weakened in September following wet weather conditions, according to the latest British Retail Consortium (BRC)-KPMG retail sales monitor.

Over the three months to September, food sales rose 3.1% year on year, however this was against a growth of 7.4% in September 2023 and below the 12-month average growth of 4.4%.

IGD CEO Sarah Bradbury said: “Growth in the grocery retail market slackened with the arrival of autumn. September’s sales were still ahead year-on-year, but the pace of increase was down versus August, no doubt depressed by the wet weather as well as cautionary economic messages from the government.

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“With the golden quarter just beginning, retailers have been implementing seasonal ranging earlier than ever, determined to make the most of the coming key trading period.”

It comes despite UK total retail sales having seen their “strongest growth in six months” in September according to BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson, as non-food “performed better than expected”.

Retail sales increased by 2% year on year against a growth of 2.7% over the same period the year before, which was above the three month average growth of 1.2%.

Bradbury added that while shopper confidence remained “stable” last month, “news of a difficult Autumn Budget and rising energy prices will likely cause a downturn in confidence with cost-of-living concerns remaining front and centre in shoppers’ minds”.

Dickinson added that looking ahead: “Decisive action from the Chancellor, such as introducing a 20% Retail Rates Corrector, would help to drive investment and economic growth up and down the country.”