Small rise UK apparel sales

Last month UK retail sales rose an unexpected 0.6 per cent due to strong demand for apparel and footwear. This was revealed by figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The data showed that warm weather helped boost overall high street sales in March. Sales of clothing and shoes were up a better-than-expected 1.1 per cent.

ONS cautioned though that the overall sales trend is still "weaker than it has been". For instance sales in the three months to March were up a mere 0.1 per cent due to weak consumer spending and war in Iraq.