FX.co ★ UK Retail Sentiment Slumps as CBI Distributive Trades Index Plunges to -43 in February

Retail sentiment in the United Kingdom deteriorated sharply in February, with the CBI Distributive Trades Survey indicator dropping to -43, down from -17 in January 2026. The fresh data, updated on 24 February 2026, signals a marked worsening in trading conditions for retailers compared with the previous month.

The deeper negative reading suggests a significant decline in reported sales volumes relative to the same period a year earlier, underscoring growing pressure on the UK’s distributive and retail sectors. The move from -17 to -43 over a single month highlights an abrupt weakening in confidence and trading performance across the industry during February.