British retail sales increase by 0.7 pct in Feb.

Britain's retail sales volume increased by 0.7 percent in February 2015 compared with that of the previous month, with all retail sectors showing growth, said the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on Thursday.

Data showed that British retail sales increased by 5.7 percent in February 2015 compared with that of a year earlier, recording the 23rd consecutive month of year-on-year growth.

In February, the amount spent in the retail industry increased by 2.2 percent compared with February 2014 and by 0.3 percent compared with January 2015, figures showed.

Average store prices fell by 3.6 percent in February 2015, when compared to the previous February, registering the largest year-on-year fall since consistent records began in 1997, said the government's statistics agency.

Internet sales revenues dropped by 2.3 percent compared with January 2015, but increased by 10.1 percent compared with February 2014, data showed. The sales made online accounted for 11.6 percent of all retail sales.

Martin Beck, senior economic adviser to the EY ITEM Club, commented in a note: "February's strength was broad-based, with all categories of retail sales seeing growth. And with low or 'no-inflation' set to persist through 2015, the retail sector should continue to reap the rewards of rising real incomes."

Official data showed that the British inflation rate fell to zero in February, the lowest reading since records began, inching toward deflation. Endit