- Pound (GBP) rises for a second day
- UK retail sales jump 1%
- Euro (EUR) falls after German consumer morale rises less than forecast
- Trump trade tariff jitters weigh on EUR
The Pound Euro (GBP/EUR) exchange is rising for a second straight day. The pair rose 0.09% in the previous session, settling on Thursday at €1.1991. It traded between €1.1974 and €1.2017. At 08:00 UTC, GBP/EUR is trading +0.14% at €1.2008. The pair is set to rise 0.5% this week, after rising 0.48% in the previous week.
The pound is rising on Friday after stronger than expected UK economic data which showed retail sales unexpectedly rose in February. Retail sales unexpectedly rose by 1% last month, boosted by an increase in department stores and clothing good shops. This was well ahead of the 0.4% contraction that analysts had expected, but we’re slightly down from January’s 1.4% increase.
Separate data also confirmed that the UK economy ended last year with 0.1% growth in the final quarter. The figures show that across 2024, the UK economy grew by 1.1%, slightly more than the expectations of 0.9%. This follows a 0.4% growth in 2023.
This week, Chancellor Rachel Reeves vowed to kick-start stronger growth by easing regulations, supporting big projects, and overhauling planning rules. However, the economy is struggling to gain traction, and the Office of Budget Responsibility slashed its 2025 growth forecast to just 1%.
The EUR is under pressure as trump trade tariff jitters keep investors on edge ahead of next week’s reciprocal tariff announcement on April 2.
On the data front, Germany’s consumer morale improved marginally in April. GfK consumer sentiment index rose from -24.6 to -24.5 but came in short of expectations of -22.2. The data indicate a lessened pessimism following the recent elections and increased hopes for a more stable government.
However, the survey also showed a willingness to save, which continues to signal significant uncertainty among German households.
Looking ahead to next week, the main focus will be on April 2nd, when Trump is expected to announce global reciprocal trade tariffs, although reports suggest they may be less severe than initially feared.