LONDON, Oct 28 Reuters British retailers reported a fall in sales for October as consumers held off on spending ahead of this week39;s budget announcement by finance minister Rachel Reeves, the Confederation of British Industry said on Monday.

The CBI39;s monthly retail sales survey conducted between Sept. 26 and Oct. 15 showed the headline balance dropped to 6 from 4 in September.

Retail sales volumes slipped back slightly in October, with some firms highlighting increased consumer caution ahead of this week39;s Autumn Budget as a key factor, CBI Principal Economist Martin Sartorius said.

The survey showed retailers expected a flat performance in November.

Measures of consumer and business confidence have dipped before Wednesday39;s first taxandspending announcement of the new government which Prime Minister Keir Starmer has warned will include painful measures to fix the country39;s public finances.

Writing by William Schomberg; Editing by Suban Abdulla

Source Reuters