UK retail sales rise 0.4% in August after wet July

UK retail sales rebounded in August from the rain affected prior month, rising 0.4% on the back of strong food and clothing purchases by consumers, according to official data published on Friday.

The rises in food and clothing were partially offset by online sales, which dropped slightly as some people returned to shopping in person after a very wet July - which recorded a sharp 1.1% fall.

Fuel sales also fell, with increased prices hitting demand said Heather Bovill, deputy director for surveys and economic indicators at the Office for National Statistics.

Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com