Retail sales rose in February, up by 0.4% on the previous month, official figures show.
But sales at food stores saw the biggest fall since December 2016, the Office for National Statistics said.After 11 months of the current financial year, government borrowing stands at £23.1bn, 44% lower than in the same period last year. Unusually warm weather in February contributed to the rise in retail sales, said the ONS, boosting spending at garden centres and on sporting equipment.The ONS's head of retail sales, Rhian Murphy, said strong increases in fuel sales and online shopping had also driven the continued"bounce back".
She added:"Food growth slowed, however, due to a significant fall for supermarkets, specialist food and alcohol stores in February after the sales and promotions seen in January came to an end."
Valentines day spike
You kept this quiet BBC, like the Dutch election today
I too would be stocking up before Brexit...
When in stress and feeling hopeless fill up the nothingness in you by BUYING. That's what we are groomed to do. So more buying simply means a sicker society and a bigged wealth divide.
Er.... Hang on....
Oh no, more bad news for the anti brexit BBC Party, under the illusion that they should run the country. This sort of good news must run against their ever increasing paparazzi style of journalism. You know the one, if you don’t like the facts, invent them.
DespiteBrexit
I blame Brexit. Oh wait, sales rise? Nevermind.
How can food sales be down..isn't everybody stockpiling for a no-deal brexit?