UK retailers’ business rose in October. Sales recovered after two setbacks in a row and increased by 0.6 percent compared to the previous month, as the statistics office ONS announced on Friday in London. Experts had assumed an average increase of 0.5 percent.
In September and August, retail sales were still down due to high inflation. The setback in September was also somewhat stronger than previously known. The Bureau of Statistics revised the month-on-month decline to 1.5 percent, after previously reporting a 1.4 percent drop. The September data was also weighed down by the state funeral for Queen Elizabeth II, which left shops closed.
In a year-on-year comparison, the development in October was also slightly better than expected. In this regard, the statistics office only reported a decline of 6.1 percent, while analysts had expected a drop of 6.5 percent.
According to the statistics office, the increase in sales in October covered almost all main sectors. Only the grocery store saw a decrease. (dpa)