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| UK retail sales sees strong rise in May | UK retail sales sees strong rise in May |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| UK retail sales recorded a larger-than-expected rise last month, helped by a strong increase in food sales. | UK retail sales recorded a larger-than-expected rise last month, helped by a strong increase in food sales. |
| Sales rose 2.1% in May from the month before, and were up 1.9% from a year earlier, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). | Sales rose 2.1% in May from the month before, and were up 1.9% from a year earlier, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). |
| Supermarket discounts helped to boost food sales, which rose 3.5% from April, and online sales continued to rise. | Supermarket discounts helped to boost food sales, which rose 3.5% from April, and online sales continued to rise. |
| Analysts said that the figures were further evidence that the UK economy was continuing to recover. | Analysts said that the figures were further evidence that the UK economy was continuing to recover. |
| 'Surprisingly positive' | 'Surprisingly positive' |
| May's sales increase was a big upswing compared with April, when High Street sales fell 1.1% after bad weather discouraged shoppers. | May's sales increase was a big upswing compared with April, when High Street sales fell 1.1% after bad weather discouraged shoppers. |
| The rebound in sales was widespread across most stores, the ONS said. | The rebound in sales was widespread across most stores, the ONS said. |
| "Feedback from retailers suggested that promotions on summer ranges led to this increase in sales." | "Feedback from retailers suggested that promotions on summer ranges led to this increase in sales." |
| The ONS said that online sales continued to show strong growth, rising 10.3% from a year earlier. | The ONS said that online sales continued to show strong growth, rising 10.3% from a year earlier. |
| Commenting on the figures, Philip Rush of Nomura said: "It's surprisingly positive - even stronger than we expected. Food store sales bounced back very strongly and the other big surprise was clothing stores." | Commenting on the figures, Philip Rush of Nomura said: "It's surprisingly positive - even stronger than we expected. Food store sales bounced back very strongly and the other big surprise was clothing stores." |
| Sales at textile, clothing and footwear stores rose 1.1% year-on-year. | Sales at textile, clothing and footwear stores rose 1.1% year-on-year. |
| Car production | |
| Despite the upbeat retail sales figures, news from elsewhere in the economy was less positive. | |
| The latest survey from the CBI business lobby group found that UK factory orders rose only slightly this month, and companies became less confident about future prospects. | |
| Separately, motor manufacturers reported a 8.4% fall in output in May, blaming continued weak demand from recession-hit European markets. | |
| The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said 129,355 cars were produced in the month, although this was still above pre-recession levels. | |
| Output for the first five months of 2013 was 632,804 units, down 0.6% on the same period last year. |