British retail sales rose in August after a decline in a rainy July

British retail sales partially recovered in August compared to July, which saw heavy rain, official data showed on Friday, adding to the evidence that the country’s consumers are adjusting to cost-of-living pressures.

The British Office for National Statistics said that sales volume rose 0.4 percent on a monthly basis after a 1.1 percent decline in July. Economists polled by Reuters had expected a slightly higher rise of 0.5 percent in August.

The inflation rate in Britain reached 6.7 percent last month, declining from its highest levels of more than 11 percent last October, but it is still the highest among the major rich economies in the world.

However, August data shows sales volumes rose on a monthly basis for the sixth time since the start of 2023, indicating strong consumer demand.