UK retail figures 'reflect pressure on high street'

UK retail sales rose 0.3% in July from the previous month according to official figures, suggesting the recession may not be as deep as initially thought.

Sales volumes in the month were up 2.8% compared with a year earlier.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) also revised up figures for June to a rise of 0.8% from 0.1%.

But Neil Saunders, consulting director, Conlumino, said the figures were "pretty anaemic".

"I take quite a dim view of these numbers," he said. "I think they continue to reflect the pressure on the high street."