UK shoppers defy Brexit shock as spending jumps in July

Shoppers in Britain shrugged off June's shock Brexit vote as retail sales jumped by much more than expected last month, official data showed on Thursday, Warm weather boosted clothes sales and the pound's plunge tempted overseas buyers to splash out on luxury items such as watches and jewellery. Thursday's figures represent the first official data to shed light on how consumer demand has performed since the unexpected decision by voters to leave the European Union in the June 23 referendum. Data