Retail data in Britain beat expectations

LONDON, July 18 (UPI) -- Retail volume in Britain climbed higher than economists had expected in June, the Office for National Statistics said Thursday.

It was the second consecutive month data topped expectations. Economists predicted a 1.7 percent year-over-year increase. Gains came to 2.2 from June 2012 to June 2013, percent, ONS said.

ONS said retail in Britain showed "an underlying pattern of moderate growth."

The quarter-to-quarter gain came to 0.9 percent, while the gain from May came to 0.2 percent, ONS said.

Retail receipts per week came to $10.5 billion in June, compared to $10.33 billion in May and $10 billion in June 2012, the data office said.