UK shoppers spent more than expected in August, confirming that the British consumer remains in decent shape.
The Office for National Statistics reported that retail sales rose 0.2 per cent in the month, whereas City of London economists had expected a 0.2 per cent contraction after the strong growth in the July heatwave.
Over the three months to August sales were up 2 per cent.
Retail sales account for around 20 per cent of the economy and are a bellwether of overall consumer behaviour.
The economy grew by 0.4 per cent in the second quarter of 2018 and many analysts expect that to strengthen to 0.5 per cent in the third quarter.
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