UK retail sales jump unexpectedly

STORY: British retail sales made a surprising jump in April.

Official figures released Friday (May 20) showed sales up just 1.4% month on month - that after a fall in March.

The country’s Office for National Statistics said food sales rose just under 3% in April.

That largely driven by strong sales of alcohol, tobacco and ‘sweet treats’, according to the ONS.

It also said this may have been due to people staying in more to save money.

The ONS added online clothes sales did well as people got ready for summer holidays and weddings.

However, the wider picture is still disconcerting for the UK economy.

Consumer confidence is at all-time lows while the country faces a cost-of-living crisis.

On Friday, Britain’s keenly watched GfK survey found consumer confidence fell to its lowest since records began in 1974.

British buyers were hit last month by higher taxes and surging household energy costs.

Data also showed inflation hit a 40-year high of 9% earlier this week.