U.K Retail Sales ex Auto Fuel Fell in August by 0.3%, Annually Increased by 3.1%, Sterling Slightly Rises - 20.9.2012

U.K Retail Sales excluding auto fuel in August modestly dropped by 0.3% compared to expectations of a drop by 0.4% while in July remained unchanged. Moreover, U.K Retail Sales from August 11 to August 12 rose by 3.1%, slightly less than expected but higher than the revised 2.8% increase in July according to the U.K Office of National Statistics, remaining close to the highest level since January 2011. U.K Retail sales with auto fuel on monthly basis fell by 0.3% in August, less than expected drop of 0.4%. Also from August 2011 to August 2012 Retail Sales with auto fuel advanced by 2.7% while in July rose by a revised 2.3%. The Sterling was supported by the better than anticipated Retail Sales data, climbing against the greenback from 1.6182 to 1.6201 after the release.