UK Retail Sales See a Significant Boost in February

In an unexpected turn of events, the United Kingdom's retail sales volumes experienced a notable increase of 2.2% in February compared to the same period last year, as reported by the Office for National Statistics this Friday. This growth, however, fell short of what analysts had anticipated.

Monthly and Quarterly Sales Trends

Breaking down the figures, February saw a 1% rise in retail sales on a monthly basis. A closer look reveals a dramatic 6.8% surge in household goods stores sales and a modest 1.3% increase in non-food stores. On the flip side, food store sales witnessed a 2% decline.

Over the broader three-month period leading up to February 2025, sales volumes showed a steady growth, advancing by 0.3% quarter-on-quarter and climbing by 2% year-on-year.