The US saw the fastest growth in retail sales this year in June.
The US Commerce Department said that sales rose 1.1% in June, following on from the 1.1% fall in May. The figures were driven by warmer weather and discounts on cars.
However, the University of Michigan produced figures showing that consumer confidence had fallen to its lowest level since last November.
The figures saw the Dow Jones fall more than 100 points.
Financial Times 13/07/02 page 6, The Times Business 13/07/02 page 6, The Guardian 13/07/02 page 26
