UK Retail Sales Rise

Surprising Rise Seen in UK Retail Sales.

Surprising figures have shown a unexpected rise in sales for UK retail. A huge help with these figures were food sales which saw a very strong increase powered by discounts at supermarkets which have helped the boost in food sales.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that in May sales rose 2.1% and up from April which saw shoppers discouraged from the high street as bad weather hit the UK.

These figures are proof that the UK is still recovering.

Our View

Not sure why this is happening.  There is clearly a gap developing between the "have's" and "have nots".  Discounting clearly attracts us all as we search for a bargain.  People still need to eat and we have had a period of stability with mortgage rates and both fuel and domestic energy.

Perhaps people are feeling more confident about spending.  Employment is at its highest ever level, despite high unemployment.  As the headline suggests, it is a surpise rise in retail sales.