UK consumers defy weak outlook to ramp up their spending

Retail Sales Growth: British retail sales rose by 1.7% in January, marking the first increase since August and exceeding economists' expectations, although overall sales volumes fell by 0.6% over the previous three months.

Economic Outlook Concerns: Despite the positive sales data, economists warn that consumer optimism may not last due to a generally pessimistic mood among households and potential impacts from tax increases on major retailers.