By Mucahithan Avcioglu
ISTANBUL (AA) – The UK retail sales volume rose unexpectedly in September, climbing 0.5% month-on-month, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said on Friday.
The figure defied market expectations of a 0.2% fall and followed an upwardly revised 0.6% increase in the previous month.
This was the fourth consecutive monthly expansion in sales, bringing them to their highest level since July 2022.
"Computer and telecommunications retailers’ sales volumes grew strongly alongside continued growth among non-store retailers, where online jewelers reported strong demand for gold," the office said in a statement.
Non-food stores, which include computer and telecommunications retailers, grew 0.9% in September.
Non-store retail sales were also up in September, reaching their highest level since February 2022 due to strong demand for gold from online jewelers.
In September, on an annual basis, retail sales volumes climbed 1.5%, exceeding estimates of a 0.6% rise.
Additionally, in the third quarter of the year, sales volumes rose 0.9% quarter-on-quarter and were up 1% year-on-year, due to good weather in July and August, which bolstered clothing sales and non-store activity.