Retail sales volumes fell in October for the first time in nine months, according to official figures published on Thursday, providing tentative evidence of a long-awaited slowdown in consumer spending.

The Office for National Statistics reported a 0.1 per cent fall in the volume of retail sales last month compared to September – weaker than consensus expectations of a 0.1 per cent rise. September’s 0.6 per cent rise was revised down to 0.3 per cent. This helped push the annual rate down to 4.4 per cent from 6 per cent.