Sunshine and football give UK retail sales unexpected boost

Retail volumes rose by 0.7% giving cheer to beleaguered high street merchantsEngland’s extended World Cup run and the summer sunshine gave an unexpected lift to retail sales in July on the back of a consumer splurge on supermarket food and drink.Heavy discounting by clothing stores also brought shoppers back to the high street to reverse a decline in sales in June.Maplin, Toys R Us and Jacques Vert have all collapsed in recent months, but a raft of retailers and restaurant groups are facin