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LONDON (Thomson Financial) - UK retail sales rose at a record pace during May, as the warm weather prompted a boom in sales of clothing and seasonal food, official figures showed.
The Office for National Statistics said sales rose 3.5 percent in May from April, the highest rise since records began in 1986 and a dramatic turnaround from the previous month's 0.2 percent fall. The previous record was 3.2 percent, recorded in March 1991 just before the last UK recession took hold.
The figures confound analyst expectations, who thought the ongoing economic slowdown would weigh on consumer spending and had forecast flat growth.
On an annual basis sales also shot up, increasing 8.2 percent from a year earlier after last month's more modest 4.2 percent rise. Analysts had expected a second consecutive 4.2 percent reading.
The ONS said the surprise jump in sales was driven by sales of seasonal food and clothing. Clothing, textile and footwear sales surged 9.2 percent on a month-on-month basis, the highest rise since records began again in 1986.
Food sales were up 3.3 percent on the month, again the highest ever rise.
The figures contrast dramatically with recent survey evidence from the likes of the British Retail Consortium and the CBI, which point to a slowdown on the high street.
The ONS defended its findings, as its figures include small and medium businesses -- significant contributors to year-on-year growth -- while the BRC focuses on large businesses. It also noted that its survey covered around 5000 businesses of all sizes whereas the CBI analysed just 89 retailers.
On a three-month on three-month basis sales were up 1.8 percent, up from April's 1.5 increase.
The implied deflator for May was 0.3 percent lower than the same month a year earlier. rachel.armstrong@thomsonreuters.com rar/pp/ss COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Financial News Limited 2008. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Thomson Financial News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Financial News.