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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| UK retail sales fall 3.9% in June | UK retail sales fall 3.9% in June |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Retail sales in the UK fell 3.9% in June, after they had shown a sudden and unexpected 3.6% record surge in May. | Retail sales in the UK fell 3.9% in June, after they had shown a sudden and unexpected 3.6% record surge in May. |
| The reversal from the revised May figure is the sharpest monthly decline since the series began in 1986. | The reversal from the revised May figure is the sharpest monthly decline since the series began in 1986. |
| Analysts had expected a decrease, with consumer spending being squeezed by rising fuel bills and food costs. | Analysts had expected a decrease, with consumer spending being squeezed by rising fuel bills and food costs. |
| The fall cut the annual growth rate to 2.2%, while sales in the three months to June were up 0.6% on the previous three months. | |
| During June, both food and non-food sectors suffered their steepest monthly falls since records began, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said. | During June, both food and non-food sectors suffered their steepest monthly falls since records began, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said. |
| Good weather in May had seen these sectors enjoy an unexpected sales boost, with summer drinks and clothing selling well. | Good weather in May had seen these sectors enjoy an unexpected sales boost, with summer drinks and clothing selling well. |
| Rising prices | Rising prices |
| The sharp fall in sales during June pushed the value of the pound down as expectations rose that the next move in UK interest rates would be down. | The sharp fall in sales during June pushed the value of the pound down as expectations rose that the next move in UK interest rates would be down. |
| "We continue to favour aggressive rate cuts in 2009 with the policy rate touching 3.5% lows seen in 2003," said James Knightley, an economist at ING. | "We continue to favour aggressive rate cuts in 2009 with the policy rate touching 3.5% lows seen in 2003," said James Knightley, an economist at ING. |
| There were signs that the rising cost of food is beginning to feed through, with prices on average in the overall retail sector up 0.5% on the year, the biggest rise since May 2007 | There were signs that the rising cost of food is beginning to feed through, with prices on average in the overall retail sector up 0.5% on the year, the biggest rise since May 2007 |
| Household goods sales posted their biggest monthly fall in June since 1991, and textile, clothing and footwear sales fell at their sharpest monthly rate since 2002. | Household goods sales posted their biggest monthly fall in June since 1991, and textile, clothing and footwear sales fell at their sharpest monthly rate since 2002. |
| However, sales in non-specialised stores rose 3.1%, the largest growth for this sector since August 2007. | However, sales in non-specialised stores rose 3.1%, the largest growth for this sector since August 2007. |
| Sales by predominantly food stores rose by 6.5% over the year. | Sales by predominantly food stores rose by 6.5% over the year. |
| And within the non-store retailing and repair sector sales rose by 6.5%, supporting recent indications that people are mending their existing products rather than buying new replacements. | And within the non-store retailing and repair sector sales rose by 6.5%, supporting recent indications that people are mending their existing products rather than buying new replacements. |