Japan raises interest rates to 31-year high as central bankers fight inflation; retail sales rise in Great Britain – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news Despite the inflationary squeeze on households, retail sales across Great Britain have risen over the summer. The heatwave, a pick-up in web shopping, and the joys (and pain and disappointment !) of the men’s football World Cup, helped to lift spending over the three months to August, new data shows.

“Retail sales increased in the latest three months, with a particularly strong June for online outlets helping to boost their sales across the period. Food store sales also rose, with supermarkets doing well in July and August. “Meanwhile, retailers selling alcohol and beverages performed well across all three months, which they attributed to promotions, the hot weather and the World Cup.”

So although the central bank reiterated that it will continue raising rates if economic and inflation conditions evolve as projected, the market has reacted to the two high profile dissenters. The Yen is -0.72% lower at 157.10, having been at around 153.40 at the start of the week and the JGB curve has steepened, with 2yrs -2.2bps and 30yrs +3.2bps 7am BST: Retail sales data across Great Britain for August 10am BST: Eurozone construction output for July

Read the original report at The Guardian.