British pound remains lower versus greenback

On Thursday, the British pound remained weaker versus the moderately stronger greenback notwithstanding data showing that British retail sales ascended at a faster than expected tempo in June.

The currency pair GBP/USD hit 1.2969, which is not far the day’s minimums of 1.2973.

According to the Office for National Statistics, retail sales grew 0.6% the previous month, in contrast with predictions for a 0.4% leap, having dropped 1.1% in May.

On a year-over-year basis retail sales rallied 2.9%, ahead of predictions for a 2.5% jump.

The soar was backed by warmer weather that helped to boost sales of summer clothing and compensate dips in food as well as fuel sales, as the ONS informed.

The report showed that consumer spending keeps holding up in the face of soaring inflation. It definitely erodes household incomes.

Inflation has abruptly accelerated since the previous year’s Brexit vote because the steep sag in the British pound bolstered import prices, provoking fears over a dip in living standards with wages lagging growing prices.