UK retail sales rise by more than expected in August
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LONDON, Sept 20 (Reuters) -British retail sales rose by a stronger-than-expected 1%in August and growth in July was revised up, official figures showed on Friday.
Economists polled by Reuters had forecast a monthly rise of 0.4% in sales volumes last month.
The Office for National Statistics said sales volumes in July rose by a revised 0.7%, up from a previous estimate of a 0.5% month-on-month increase.
Some supermarkets and clothing retailers reported a boost because of warmer weather and end-of-season sales, the ONS said.
Sterling rose immediately after the figures were published.
Followinga surge in inflation in 2022 which caused a hit to consumer spending power for much of the following two years, a slowdown in price growth, fasterincreases in wages and an interest rate cut by the Bank of Englandhave helped to restore some of the lost living standards.
But recent reports from UK retailers have shown discretionary spending remains under pressure.
Fashion retailer Primark ABF.L reported a fall in UK underlying sales in its latest quarter andon Tuesday, B&Q and Screwfix owner Kingfisher KGF.L said demand for kitchens and bathrooms was weak.
HoweverNext NXT.L said on Thursday that it had seen better-than-expected sales in the first six weeks of its second half, which reflected an improvement in the weather. It added that 'bigticket' home furnishing items remained a difficult market.
Consumers also appear to have taken fright at comments by the new government of Prime Minister Keir Starmer about the tough economic outlook and the possible need for higher taxes.
A survey published earlier on Friday showed consumer confidence dropping sharply to a six-month low in September.
Writing by William Schomberg; additional reporting by James Davey; Editing by Kate Holton
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