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STORY: British retail sales edged up in July boosted in part by the men's Euros soccer championship.

Official figures showed Friday retail sales rose 0.5% last month after falling close to 1% during an unusually cool and wet June.

Friday's figures showed sales volumes at clothing stores fell slightly in July and were 4.0% lower than a year earlier.

But department stores and sports equipment shops did better as they were boosted by the Euros and discounting.

The squeeze on British consumers from high inflation over the last few years is beginning to ease.

Inflation was back at its 2% target in May and June, and only slightly above that in July.

Wage growth also exceeded inflation by the highest margin in three years during the second quarter of the year.

The Bank of England cut also interest rates from a 16-year high this month.

However, sales volumes in July were still 0.8% lower than in February 2020, the last month before COVID-19 lockdowns started.

Recent reports from UK retailers have also been mixed.

Clothing retailer Next reported better-than-expected second-quarter sales and raised its full-year profit outlook.

But luxury brand Burberry warned on profit.

And other UK retailers have highlighted continuing low consumer confidence around more discretionary purchases.