Unexpectedly strong retail sales in February boost hopes that Britain is out of recession
Unexpectedly strong retail sales in February have boosted hopes that Britain is out of recession.
According to official figures, consumers bought the same amount of goods last month as in January, defying bleak and dire predictions of a 0.4 percent decline.
Meanwhile, the already strong sales figure for January was increased from 3.4 percent to 3.6 percent. This is the highest figure since the reopening after the lockdown in April 2021.
Boost: According to official figures, consumers bought as many goods last month as in January
The statistics are a sign that better days lie ahead for the economy as the weather warms.
Shoppers benefited from a rebound in the clothing sector, with fashion sales rising 1.7 percent, the biggest increase since December 2022.