UK retail sales grow faster than expected in June

0.7% jump

Retail sales in the UK jumped faster than expected in June despite persistently high inflation, as good weather and promotions boosted sales.

The Office for National Statistics said on Friday (21 July) that retail sales had risen by 0.7% last month, a larger increase than the 0.2% forecast by economists polled by Reuters, following a rise of 0.1% in May.  Sales decreased by 1% from a year earlier, exceeding expectations of a 1.5% dip, while retail sales volumes rose by 0.4% in the three months to the end of June, compared with the previous quarter. Inflation comes in under expectations at 7.9% but UK remains 'drastic outlier' Non-food stores sales volumes rose by 1%, following a fall of 0.5% in May as department stores a...