UK retail sales volumes rose by 1.2 per cent between July and August, according to data from the Office of National Statistics - a number that was greeted with scepticism by some economists.

According to the ONS, strength in sales of clothing and footwear drove sales higher. However, the data are inconsistent with surveys from the CBI and the Bank of England’s own monthly Agents’ survey, along with anecdotal evidence from individual retailers most of whom say they are struggling. The ONS itself notes that retail sales data can be very volatile.