The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) released its retail sales balance data on Wednesday. The CBI retail sales balance increased to +24% in August from +21% in July.

The increase was driven by a rise in sales in clothing stores.

Sales expectations for next month were up to +35%.

"Household spending seems to have remained firm going into the second half of this year, so the outlook for the retail sector looks upbeat," CBI Director of Economics, Rain Newton-Smith, said.