Retail sales rise in Great Britain as warm weather boosts clothing purchases

Increase of 0.5% in August helped by back-to-school shopping, while food stores also given lift

Back-to-school shopping and warm weather helped to boost retail sales last month, according to the latest official data.

Total retail sales in Great Britain rose 0.5%, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said, as parents prepared for the new school year and shoppers enjoyed a series of heatwave and the summer’s last bank holiday.