Retail sales boosted by World Cup to defy expectations

The ONS said household goods stores increased their sales volumes by 1.7%, driven by a strong showing for electrical stores prior to the start of the World Cup. However, non-food stores as a whole remained static. Food stores increased their volumes by 1.2% while non-store retailing increased 1.8%. Year on year, retail sales were 2.2% higher, with food stores posting a decrease of 0.5% while non-food stores increased 5.4%. Within predominantly non-food stores there were rises across all sectors, the largest being non-specialised stores at 9.4% and textile, clothing and footwear outlet...