UK data - BRC Sales like-for-like for November +1.8% y/y vs -0.2% prior

• Prior was -0.2%
• UK November total retail sales +5.0% y/y -- largest rise since July
• Prior was +1.3% y/y

The British Retail Consortium said earlier-than-usual Christmas shopping and good spending at pubs and restaurants drove the gain.

Stepping back, non-essential spending is up 17.7% from two years ago, before the pandemic. A separate survey from Barclaycard showed spending 16.0% higher than November 2019.

This report generally doesn't move GBP but it's offers some insight into the health of the consumer. Cable is flat since the start of Asia-Pacific trading at 1.3262.