LONDON, Sept. 8 (Xinhua) -- Britain's retail sales growth slowed in August as non-food sales declined and household cost pressures weighed on consumer spending, data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) showed Tuesday.
The country's total retail sales increased 0.7 percent year on year, down from 3.1 percent growth a year earlier and below the 12-month average of 1.6 percent, according to the BRC.
Food sales rose 2.6 percent year on year, below the 12-month average growth of 3.2 percent, while non-food sales fell 0.8 percent, compared with the 12-month average growth of 0.2 percent.
"August was a disappointing month for retail sales. Despite pockets of growth, particularly in some food categories, overall performance was below the average for the past year," BRC's lead economist Harvir Dhillon said.
Dhillon said rising household bills were prompting shoppers to tighten their belts, particularly on discretionary spending, such as big-ticket purchases of furniture and household appliances.
Sarah Bradbury, chief executive officer at the Institute of Grocery Distribution, said consumers were likely to remain sensitive to pressures, including rising energy prices and geopolitical uncertainty ahead of the Autumn Budget.
Dhillon said retailers are facing the double challenge of rising costs and slowing consumer demand, and called on the government to use the upcoming budget to support high streets and economic growth.
