Retailers in the U.K. reported a brighter start to the new year, with sales rising after four straight months of falls, largely from a recovery in the food segment.

According to a Friday U.S. Census Bureau report, retail sales for January were down 0.9% from the December. But total sales for November 2024 - January 2025 were up 4.2%.

Britain's benchmark index edged up on Friday supported by consumer stocks as investors parsed economic data, while Standard Chartered was at a decade-high after reporting a jump in annual profit.

U.S. retail sales fell more than expected in January, dropping a seasonally adjusted 0.9% from December to $723.9 billion, the Commerce Department said. Economists surveyed by The Wall Street Journal had expected a drop of 0.

Increasing retail sales in January and improving consumer confidence in February could point towards more optimism in the UK economy, however, concerns persist about slow economic growth and the threat of US tariffs.