LONDON, June 23 Reuters British retail sales unexpectedly rose by 0.3 in May from April, figures from the Office for National Statistics showed on Friday.

Economists polled by Reuters had forecast that sales volumes would fall by 0.2 on the month.

Retail sales volumes in May were 2.1 lower than a year earlier.

The Reuters poll had pointed to a fall of 2.6 in sales volumes on an annual basis.

Britain39;s persistently high inflation has hit household spending power. The pace of price growth held at 8.7 in May according to data published earlier this week, defying forecasts for a slowdown.

The Bank of England on Thursday raised interest rates for the 13th time in a row to 5.0, their highest since 2008.

Reporting by William Schomberg, editing by William James

Source Reuters