UK Retail Sales Fall 0.9 Percent in August

Britain’s consumers took a break from shopping last month as spending fell back from the high levels recorded in July.

Data from the Office for National Statistics showed that the volume of retail sales dropped by 0.9% in August – mainly as the result of weaker demand for food.

The ONS said supermarkets had been particularly busy in July during the hottest of the summer weather but that activity came back to more normal levels in August.

After the recent run of strong economic news, the City had been expecting retail sales to grow by 0.4% between July and August, and the pound fell when the figures were released.

Food sales dropped 2.7% in August, and there was little evidence of the recent pickup in housing activity helping sales of household goods, which fell by 1.6%.

via The Guardian

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