Retail sales rose by a better-than-expected 0.8 per cent month-on-month in August, according to the Office for National Statistics, following the 3.6 per cent rise in July that saw retail sales rise above pre-pandemic levels. City economists had forecast a 0.7 per cent rise.
August was the fourth consecutive month of growth and the ONS estimates that retail sales are now 4 per cent higher than in February.
Jonathan Athow, deputy national statistician, said that “the switch to greater online sales means the high street remains under pressure”.
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