Shoppers spent more on food and household goods in the run-up to the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle during the good weather in the middle of the month, the ONS said.
The report indicated that the economy is recovering from a sharp slowdown seen amid adverse weather conditions in the early part of the year.
The pound’s gains came as the U.S. dollar weakened across the board, giving up gains made in the previous session after a more hawkish sounding Federal Reserve raised interest rates for the second time this year and indicated that it now sees two more rate increases before the years end.