UK BRC January like-for-like retail sales +7.1% y/y vs +4.8% prior

UK retail sales data

The UK was on a strict lockdown for much of the month and this headline doesn't tell the story. Barclaycard said overall spending was down 16.3% y/y, which was the worst month since May.

Spending at bars and restaurants has cratered while supermarket spending was up 17%.

The BRC data said spending at major retail chains was down 1.3%