The British pound strengthened against the U.S. dollar on Friday, rising 0.11% to 1.3373, as unexpectedly strong UK retail sales data offset a broader dollar recovery. Retail volumes in August rose 0.5% month-on-month, exceeding forecasts for a 0.2% decline and reversing a 0.5% drop in July, marking the second-highest year-on-year increase since April 2022. Year-over-year growth reached 2.4%, with online sales contributing 2.5% on the month and 8.9% year-on-year, raising their share of total sales to 28.8%—a slight uptick from 28.4% in July.
GBP/USD rises 0.11% to 1.3373 as UK retail sales beat expectations
Positive UK retail sales data and softer dollar pressures supported sterling’s gains ahead of central bank meetings.
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Sophie Laurent · FX & Rates Desk · 18 Sept 2026 · 08:58 · 1 min read
This article was produced with AI assistance and edited by a Finance Review Daily journalist.
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Written by
Sophie Laurent
FX & Rates Desk
Sophie covers currency markets and central bank policy across Europe, with a focus on how rate decisions ripple through FX pairs. She has been tracking the ECB's policy path since the start of the current easing cycle.
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