A supermarket spending boom during the World Cup ensured official retail sales figures for June surged by more than expected today.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported that sales volumes jumped 0.9 per cent in June — the fifth successive month-on-month increase.
With sales between April and June 2.1 per cent higher than in the previous months, the latest report on consumer spending will add to fears that the Bank of England will be forced to increase interest rates from the current level of 4.5 per cent.