British shoppers go on spring spree –but the outlook may be chillier | Larry Elliott

High street sales have beaten predictions, but that doesn't mean the economy is a sunny picture of health

Britain went on a spending spree in April. The shops were full of punters. Online retailers coined it in. Spring brought with it an end to the winter consumer spending blues.

That at least is what the official figures suggest. The Office for National Statistics reported that the volume of retail sales rose by 2.3% last month, smashing City expectations. It was enough, in combination with Donald Trump's political woes in Washington, to send the pound back through the $1.30 level to its highest since last September.

Related: UK retail sales surge despite pay squeeze