According to a recent survey by BRC, British consumers continue to spend cautiously amid rising Brexit uncertainties. Total retail spending saw a 0.6% rise during October, growing at the strongest pace since April’s Easter holiday shopping.

However, the long-term outlook for retail spending still remains weak, with average growth in retail sales anticipated at +0.1% over the next 12 months. According to BRC’s chief executive Helen Dickinson, the recent decisions to delay Brexit and force early elections are expected to increase nervousness among consumers in Britain.

Another private survey by Barclaycard also reveals a similar bleak outlook for the retail sector in Britain. This survey reveals that consumer spending grew at a rate of 1.5% in October YoY, coming in lower than the 1.6% growth seen in September. The stockpiling effect which had previously lent a boost to the retail sector also appears to be fading, with only 17% consumers indicating that they had stockpiled in preparation for the previous Brexit deadline of October 31.