LONDON: British consumers kept a lid on spending in September, with much of their extra outlay going on fuel, while warm weather helped pubs but hurt clothing sales, according to surveys published on Tuesday.
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) trade body said its total retail sales measure rose by 1.3 per cent compared with a year ago, picking up from 0.7 per cent in August but below its 12-month average of 1.5 per cent.
A separate survey from Barclays, based on consumer card spending data, showed a 2.0 per cent annual increase in September, slowing from August's 2.1 per cent rise.
It pointed to a rise in households' confidence around their finances but also some nerves ahead of Finance Minister John Healey's budget on October 28.
