Chain stores sales in the US rose 0.5% in the latest weekly data, the first time since December 2008.
Another positive anecdote is a rise in the National Federation of Independent Businesses index by 5.8 points in May.
EUR/USD trades at session highs of 1.3680 While Cable has sprinted through 1.53 to a new high of 1.5322. Upbeat RICS and BRC data are helping underpin the pound
Next up for the markets are US and Canadian trade figures at 12:30 GMT.
