UK retail sales rose by 1.8% in January, according to figures released by the Office for National Statistics moments ago. This compares to a 0.4% increase in December and exceeded expectations of a 0.2% rise. Sales in the three months to January were up 0.1% compared to the three months to October.

Specifically, non-food retail sales rose by 5.3%, while sales outside of stores increased by 3.4% in January. Food sales rose by 1.2%, and sales excluding motor fuel increased by 2%.