U.K. retail sales growth accelerated unexpectedly in November, official data showed Thursday.
Retail sales volume including automotive fuel increased 1.6 percent in November from October, the Office for National Statistics said. The monthly growth was expected to slow to 0.4 percent from 1 percent in October.
Excluding automotive fuel, retail sales advanced 1.7 percent versus 1 percent increase in October. Economists had forecast sales to rise marginally by 0.3 percent.
On a yearly basis, the increase in overall sales volume accelerated to 6.4 percent in November from 4.6 percent. The growth was forecast to ease to 4.4 percent.
Likewise, the annual growth in sales excluding auto fuel improved to 6.9 percent from 4.9 percent, while it was expected to ease to 4.5 percent.
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