Business · 20 February 2026
British shoppers boost January sales by 1.8 percent
The Office for National Statistics reported a surprising increase in British buying habits last month, beating economic forecasts of just 0.2 per cent. Purchases of sports supplements and jewellery drove this growth, while weather conditions encouraged people to buy items on the internet instead of visiting high streets. However, experts warn this spending spike may not last because unemployment is high and wage increases are slowing down.
Reported by BBC · How we write briefs