The National Bureau of Statistics (ONS) said on Thursday (October 23rd) that the monthly sales of 9 retail sales decreased by 0.3% after January, the worst month since January, with an increase of 0.4% in the previous quarter, and an annual increase of 2.7% in retail sales after the quarter rose, lower than the 3.7% increase in the previous month.

Economists had expected a 9 decline in the retail sales month after the 0.1% quarter, with an annual growth rate of 2.8%.

Officials from the National Bureau of Statistics said the weather was mild in September, which delayed shoppers' purchase.

This is the main reason for the decline in retail sales, but sales in other areas are also weak.

Retail sales in the third quarter grew by 0.3%, the smallest increase in three months from September to November last year, and the weakest calendar quarter since the beginning of 2013.

Consumer spending has been Britain since the mid 2013.

But the slow wage growth has put pressure on many British families financially.

Last week, a survey by the British Retail Association showed that the consumption of major commercial streets in September was the biggest annual decline in the past two and a half years.

The National Bureau of Statistics said that the monthly sales of clothing and footwear fell by 7.8%, the largest monthly decline since April 2012.

In September, the price of the store decreased by 1.4% compared with the same period last year, the biggest decline in five years, because of the overall fall in prices.

The price of food stores has dropped for the first time since November 2004, which may reflect the price war between supermarkets.

Retail accounts for nearly 6% of the UK economy.

The UK's third quarter gross domestic product (GDP) annual rate and quarterly rate will be announced on Friday (October 24th) at 16:30 Beijing time.

Economists expect the UK's third quarter GDP growth rate to slow from 0.9% in the second quarter to 0.7%.