Picture: Colin Mearns.
UK retail sales volumes rose 0.7 per cent last month, after falling by 0.5% in June, official figures show.
The seasonally adjusted data, published by the Office for National Statistics, signal continued discounting by retailers to attract shoppers.
Warm weather and World Cup football were cited as factors which boosted sales volumes in July. Economists had predicted a 0.2% rise in UK retail sales volumes in July.
Howard Archer, chief economic adviser to the EY ITEM Club think-tank, said: “Extended discounting also boosted clothing sales while food sales benefited from the heatwave and the football World Cup.”
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