UK retail sales unexpectedly contracted in July after being hit by weak spending as cold weather and rain kept people from shopping.
Most recently, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported total retail sales fell by 1.2% last month from the 0.6% increase recorded in June.
The figure also missed expectations for a 0.6% contraction, while on an annual basis it fell by 3.2%.
This was the first contraction in retail sales recorded since March, when sales declined for both food and non-food reflecting the effects of weather and cost pressures.
In addition to the uncertain weather in Britain, consumers were also affected by inflation which remained high at 6.8% in July as well as aggressive interest rate hikes by the central bank of England (BOE).
The pound lost 0.2% to 1.2720 against the greenback immediately after the data was released.
The latest retail sales reading came in contrast with stronger-than-expected reports for economic growth, wages and inflation in the UK last week.
