British Pound attracts bids despite soft UK Retail Sales data
- The British Pound gains even as UK Retail Sales decline at a faster-than-expected pace in September.
- UK Retail Sales contract 0.4%, worse from estimates of -0.1%.
- Japan’s National CPI ex. Fresh Food rises in line with expectations of 2.1% YoY in September.
The British Pound (GBP) rises to near 210.20 against the Japanese Yen (JPY) after the release of the United Kingdom (UK) Retail Sales data for September.
Pound Sterling Price Today
The table below shows the percentage change of British Pound (GBP) against listed major currencies today. British Pound was the strongest against the Japanese Yen.
| USD | EUR | GBP | JPY | CAD | AUD | NZD | CHF | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USD | 0.03% | 0.08% | 0.20% | 0.03% | 0.00% | -0.17% | 0.20% | |
| EUR | -0.03% | 0.05% | 0.18% | -0.02% | -0.05% | -0.20% | 0.17% | |
| GBP | -0.08% | -0.05% | 0.13% | -0.05% | -0.09% | -0.25% | 0.12% | |
| JPY | -0.20% | -0.18% | -0.13% | -0.17% | -0.21% | -0.38% | 0.00% | |
| CAD | -0.03% | 0.02% | 0.05% | 0.17% | -0.02% | -0.21% | 0.18% | |
| AUD | -0.00% | 0.05% | 0.09% | 0.21% | 0.02% | -0.17% | 0.21% | |
| NZD | 0.17% | 0.20% | 0.25% | 0.38% | 0.21% | 0.17% | 0.38% | |
| CHF | -0.20% | -0.17% | -0.12% | -0.01% | -0.18% | -0.21% | -0.38% |
The heat map shows percentage changes of major currencies against each other. The base currency is picked from the left column, while the quote currency is picked from the top row. For example, if you pick the British Pound from the left column and move along the horizontal line to the US Dollar, the percentage change displayed in the box will represent GBP (base)/USD (quote).
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has reported that Retail Sales, a key measure of consumer spending, declined at a faster pace of 0.4% Month-on-Month (MoM) against estimates of 0.1%. In August, the consumer spending measure grew 0.7%, revised higher from 0.5%.
On an annualized basis, Retail Sales rose at a moderate pace of 0.8% vs. expectations of 1.5% and the prior release of 2.9%, upwardly revised from 2.7%.
It is highly likely that hawkish Bank of England (BoE) expectations have lend support to the British currency. Hot UK Consumer Price Index (CPI) data for September and upbeat labor market data for three-months ending in August have prompted BoE interest rate hike prospects.
According to Deutsche Bank, the combination of stronger inflation and earlier robust labour market figures "helped to cement investor expectations for a BoE rate hike in November," with markets increasingly convinced that policymakers will move at the next meeting.
Meanwhile, investors await preliminary UK S&P Global Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) data for October, which will be published at 08:30 GMT.
On Tokyo front, National Consumer Price Index (CPI) data for September has come in stronger. National CPI ex. Fresh Food rises 2.1% Year-on-Year (YoY), as expected, faster than the August reading of 1.8%. The August figure has also been revised higher from 1.7%.
Economic Indicator
Retail Sales (MoM)
The Retail Sales data, released by the Office for National Statistics on a monthly basis, measures the volume of sales of goods by retailers in Great Britain directly to end customers. Changes in Retail Sales are widely followed as an indicator of consumer spending. Percent changes reflect the rate of changes in such sales, with the MoM reading comparing sales volumes in the reference month with the previous month. Generally, a high reading is seen as bullish for the Pound Sterling (GBP), while a low reading is seen as bearish.
Last release: Fri Oct 23, 2026 06:00
Frequency: Monthly
Actual: -0.4%
Consensus: -0.1%
Previous: 0.5%
Source: Office for National Statistics
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