(Alliance News) - Retail sales in the UK climbed in September, official data showed on Friday, topping consensus estimates.
Retail sales volumes were 1.5% higher monthly, according to the Office for National Statistics, following growth of 0.8% in August. Consensus compiled by FXStreet forecast growth of 0.4% monthly, so September sales outperformed expectations.
The ONS noted it was the fifth successive month of growth, "resulting in an increase of 5.5% when compared with February's pre-pandemic level".
Year-on-year, sales volumes were up 4.7%, topping market estimates of 3.7% growth and following a 2.8% rise in August.
Excluding fuel, sales volumes climbed 6.4% annually in September and 1.6% monthly. In August, they were up 0.6% monthly and 4.3% annually.
"While food sales have done well in recent months as people have eaten out less, non-food store sales have now made a recovery at 1.7% above their February levels," the ONS added.
For the three months ended September, sales volumes surged 17% quarter-on-quarter, the biggest quarterly surge on record.
Online accounted for 28% of sales in September, compared to 20% in February.
By Eric Cunha; ericcunha@alliancenews.com
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