Highest rate of growth since May 2002
UK retail sales growth was better than expected in June, driven largely by World Cup-related food and drink sales, according to the latest figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS).

Sales were up by 2.1 per cent in the three months from April to June compared with the same period last year. This represented a 0.9 per cent increase on May's three-monthly figure.

It is the fifth consecutive month of month-on-month growth and the highest rate of growth since May 2002.

Ernst & Young director of retail Tim Sleep said: '[These figures] represent a better performance than expected but, arguably, portrays a slightly artificial picture. The trading environment remains tough. We see no underlying change in consumer confidence.'

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