Retail sales had their biggest monthly rise in a year and a half as the high street came back to life after the snow-struck start to the year.
Sales volumes increased 1.6% in April compared with March, the Office for National Statistics said, beating forecasts of 0.7% and providing some evidence that the underlying economy remains resilient.
It was the strongest month since October 2016.
The encouraging figures helped to restore some of the confidence lost after the disappointing start to the year. Sterling surged by nearly a cent against the dollar to touch $1.3421 before trading just below $1.34.
Click here for the full Times article (£)
Click here for the full Telegraph article
