UK retail sales enjoy World Cup bounce

Retail sales in the UK bounced unexpectedly higher in May as shoppers splashed out on televisions before the World Cup, official figures showed today.

Consumers put looming tax hikes and recession gloom to one side to gear up for the football festival as sales volumes jumped 0.6% during the month, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.

Household goods sales were up 1.7% in May with electrical retailers reporting strong demand, the ONS added.