Retail sales in Great Britain given lift as shoppers splash out

Sales volumes rise 1% in February after City economists had predicted fall amid weak consumer confidence

Retail sales in Great Britain rose last month amid a sharp increase in consumers spending at department stores, hardware shops and clothes outlets.

Reflecting a stronger economic backdrop than feared, figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed sales volumes rose by 1% on the month, although spending at supermarkets fell after a bumper month in January.