-- Britain's monthly retail sales edged up 0.7% in March after a revised 0.6% dip in February, according to data from the Office for National Statistics published Friday.
Analysts expected zero growth for the month, according to Investing.com data.
On a yearly basis, UK retail sales rose 1.7%, against the revised 1.8% increase previously and the expected 1.3% gain.
Excluding automotive fuel, retail sales were up 0.2% month over month and up 1.7% annually, following the revised decline of 0.6% and revised 2.7% jump earlier, respectively. The figures compare with the consensus estimates of a 0.2% monthly uptick and a 2% yearly rise.