Outlets got a surprisingly massive increase in January as official figures confirmed retail gross sales rose by 1.7%.
Solely a 0.3% rise had been forecast by economists polled by Reuters.
It is the primary development after 4 consecutive months of contraction and follows a fall of 0.6% in the important thing buying month of December, based on Workplace for Nationwide Statistics (ONS) figures.
The December drop was even bigger than first thought. Initially, solely a 0.3% contraction was recorded by the ONS.
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The massive rise in January got here as meals store gross sales rose by the best quantity since March 2020 when COVID-19 lockdowns started.
Outlets throughout the foods and drinks sector benefitted, the ONS stated, as supermarkets, alcohol and tobacco shops plus specialist outlets like butchers and bakers all reported robust buying and selling.
Retail gross sales figures are important as they measure family consumption, the most important expenditure throughout the UK economic system.
Rising retail gross sales can imply financial development, which the federal government has repeatedly stated is its prime precedence.
Mixed with different information launched on Friday displaying improved shopper sentiment the figures present a strengthening economic system.
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