September retail sales in Sheffield fell 4.5% year-on-year, but performance remained ahead of some comparable cities and broadly in line with national trends.
New data published by Sheffield BID reveals that retail spending in Sheffield city centre remained under pressure during September 2026, reflecting the challenging conditions facing high streets across the UK.
While monthly sales were lower than the same period last year, Sheffield's performance compared favourably with several benchmark locations. The city recorded a smaller decline than Nottingham and remained broadly in line with both Leeds and the national High Street Index.
The figures suggest that consumers continue to spend cautiously, with both customer numbers and average spend per customer declining compared with September 2025. However, Sheffield's retail economy continues to demonstrate resilience when viewed against wider market conditions.
Several sectors performed positively during the month. Grocery, Transport and Health & Beauty all recorded growth, helping to offset weaker performance elsewhere. Food & Drink remained Sheffield's largest retail sector, generating almost £8 million in sales during September. The most significant decline was recorded in the Fashion sector. However, analysis suggests that the headline figure was influenced by changes within a small number of retailers and therefore overstates the extent of wider sector weakness.
September also saw a busy programme of city centre events, including Sheffield Cocktail Week, Heritage Open Days, Castlegate Festival and the Sheffield 10k, helping to attract visitors into the city centre throughout the month.
Diane Jarvis, CEO of Sheffield BID, said:
"The latest data reflects the ongoing pressures facing consumers and retailers across the country. While spending remains subdued, it's encouraging to see Sheffield continuing to perform broadly in line with national benchmarks and comparing positively with several other major city centres.
"The figures also highlight the importance of understanding the story behind the data. Some of the headline sector changes are being influenced by individual business movements, while other sectors continue to demonstrate resilience and growth."
Key findings
- Retail sales totalled £21.4 million in September 2026.
- Year-to-date sales reached £204 million.
- Monthly sales were 4.5% lower than September 2025.
- Sheffield outperformed Nottingham and remained broadly in line with Leeds and the High Street Index.
- Grocery, Transport and Health & Beauty recorded year-on-year growth.
- City centre activity remained strong throughout September, supported by a busy programme of events.
Download the latest BID Barometer for September
