20/08/2009

Retail Boost As Mortgage Approvals Rise

UK retail sales in July rose by 3.3%, compared with the same month last year, the latest figures have revealed - and mortage approvals are also slowly increasing.

The Office for National Statistics reported that the biggest increase in sales were seen in clothing and footwear stores, with sales rising by 10.3%.

Sales of household goods also increased by 4.5%, driven by mainly furniture and electrical goods sales, which was the highest rise since August 2006.

Speaking to the BBC, Vicky Redwood at Capital Economics said that the "a decent amount of positive momentum" had built up around the retail sector and that it could last for a few more months.

But she warned that the outlook for the longer term remained "gloomy", with the prospect of tax rises in the future.

Other positive news shows that lending for home loans totalled an estimated £16 billion in July, a 26% increase from £12.7 billion in June but down 36% from £24.9 billion in July 2008.

The news is according to new data from the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML).

See: Mortgage Lending Slowly Rising

(KMcA/BMcC)

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