EUR/GBP moves above 0.8700 following UK Retail Sales, German PPI data

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EUR/GBP extends its gains for the second consecutive day, trading around 0.8710 during the Asian hours on Friday. The currency cross rises despite the upbeat United Kingdom (UK) Retail Sales and disappointing German Producer Price Index (PPI) data for August.

EUR/GBP appreciates despite stronger-than-expected UK Retail Sales data on Friday.
UK Retail Sales climbed 0.5% MoM in August, exceeding the expected 0.4% increase.
German Producer Price Index declined 0.5% MoM, while the annual PPI fell 2.2% in August.

UK Retail Sales rose 0.5% month-over-month (MoM) in August, exceeding the market consensus of a 0.4% increase. The previous reading was revised to 0.5% from 0.6%. On an annualized basis, Retail Sales increased 0.7% during the reported month, against the 0.6% expected and 0.8% (revised down from 1.1%) prior.

Meanwhile, Core Retail Sales, stripping the basket of motor fuel sales, climbed by 0.8% MoM and by 1.2% year-over-year (YoY), exceeding market expectations of 0.3% and 0.8%, respectively.

German Producer Price Index declined by 0.5% month-over-month in August, exceeding the market expectations and the previous 0.1% decline. Meanwhile, the annual PPI fell by 2.2%, following a 1.5% decline prior. Market expectations were seen to 1.8% decline.

The EUR/GBP pair draws support as the Pound Sterling (GBP) faces challenges after the Bank of England (BoE) decided to keep interest rates steady at 4%, as expected, with a 7-2 majority. BoE Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) members Swati Dhingra and Alan Taylor supported further monetary policy expansion, while the rest voted to maintain the status quo.

The Euro (EUR) may regain its ground amid increasing odds of the European Central Bank (ECB) ending rate rate-cutting cycle following the latest inflation figures.

ECB Vice President Luis de Guindos said that the central bank should follow a "very prudent" approach given the high uncertainty. Guindos added that the current rate is appropriate given inflation trends and the transmission of monetary policy.

(The story was corrected on September 19 at 6:50 GMT, to say in the first paragraph that the currency cross rises despite upbeat UK Retail Sales and disappointing German PPI data, rather than due to Pound Sterling (GBP) gains.)

Economic Indicator

Retail Sales (MoM)

The Retail Sales data, released by the Office for National Statistics on a monthly basis, measures the volume of sales of goods by retailers in Great Britain directly to end customers. Changes in Retail Sales are widely followed as an indicator of consumer spending. Percent changes reflect the rate of changes in such sales, with the MoM reading comparing sales volumes in the reference month with the previous month. Generally, a high reading is seen as bullish for the Pound Sterling (GBP), while a low reading is seen as bearish.