Prime Minister Boris Johnson says he will take Britain out of the EU on Oct. 31 without a transition deal to smooth the economic shock, unless Brussels makes concessions which it has so far ruled out. Retail sales in the UK flat - lined in 2017 due to retailers cutting back on non - essential items . Annual total sales figures for the year fell from 0.3 % in July to zero last month , according to the British Retail Association . Experts have warned that the drop in household spending increases the risk of the UK entering a recession .
Retail sales in the UK flat - lined in 2017 due to retailers cutting back on non - essential items . Annual total sales figures for the year fell from 0.3 % in July to zero last month , according to the British Retail Association . Experts have warned that the drop in household spending increases the risk of the UK entering a recession .