British retail sales inch up

British retail sales rose by less than expected in July, hit by a fall in the sales of auto fuels, official data showed on Thursday.

Retail sales volumes inched up 0.1 percent on the month to show 4.2 percent growth on the year. Economists had expected retail sales to rise 0.4 percent and for sales to be up 4.4 percent compared with July last year.

Excluding fuel, sales rose 0.4 percent on the month and 4.3 percent compared to a year ago, as expected. A 2.6 percent fall in auto fuel sales was partly offset by a 3.6 percent rise in the sales of household goods. The ONS said the sales of household electrical appliances and furniture rose strongly on the month, probably reflecting a pick-up in Britain's housing market.