Friday was marked by Retail Sales and Public Sector Net Borrowing data. Compared with November 2015, the quantity bought in the retail industry is estimated to have decreased by 1.0%. Analysts were expecting 0.1% decrease. When comparing the 2015 annual data with 2014, the quantity bought in the retail industry was estimated to have increased by 4.5%. The amount spent in the retail industry decreased by 1.0% in December 2015 compared with December 2014 and decreased by 1.4% compared with November 2015. The value of online sales increased by 8.2% in December 2015 compared with December 2014 and decreased by 5.2% compared with November 2015.
Separate report on
Public Sector Net Borrowing beat market forecasts on decline to £10.1 billion and fell to £6.9 billion. Public sector net borrowing excluding public sector banks decreased by £4.3 billion to £7.5 billion in December 2015 compared with December 2014. Public sector net debt excluding public sector banks at the end of December 2015 was £1,542.6 billion, equivalent to 81.0% of Gross Domestic Product; an increase of £53.2 billion compared with December 2014.
In the US session Existing Home Sales figures were published. Total existing-home sales, which are completed transactions that include single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops, ascended 14.7 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.46 million in December from 4.76 million in November. Analysts were predicting rate of 5.21 million. After last month's turnaround (the largest monthly increase ever recorded), sales are now 7.7 percent above a year ago.
With no major data releases both from the UK and the USA on Monday, we can expect a bit steadier session in which traders are likely to weigh on recent UK figures, but also be cautious at the beginning of the week ahead of FOMC Meeting.
