Retail sales grow for sixth months running but lockdown expected to slow rate in November

The growth came in well ahead of consensus expectations, which were for sales to remain flat, with DIY and household furnishing stores benefiting from consumers' move to improve their living space. Most sectors have rebounded to above their pre-Covid levels, with clothing and fuel the only areas languishing below February's reading. The figures take into account the period before the current lockdown measures were introduced across England, in which non-essential stores were once more forced to close. Capital Economics' Paul Dales said the numbers suggested the economy held up bett...