UK retail sales fall less than expected in Oct

British retail sales fell less than expected in October and the public finances showed their first deficit for the month since 1994, official data showed on Thursday. The Office for National Statistics said sales fell 0.1 prcent last
month, leaving them 1.9 percent higher on the year. That compared to analysts' forecasts for a fall of 0.9 percent on the month and a rise of 1.4 percent on a year ago.

Separately, the ONS said the public sector posted a net cash repayment
of 4.906 billion pounds last month. However, the government's preferred
accruals-based measure showed its first deficit for an October since 1994, with public sector net debt coming in at 1.382 billion pounds.