Oasis ticket sales push UK non-essential spending to highest level this year

Retail sales show strongest growth in six months as shoppers buy clothes and computers for new academic year

Ticket sales for the Oasis reunion tour helped to increase non-essential spending by British consumers to the highest level this year in September, amid a bumper month for retailers.

In a sign of resilience despite a pre-budget hit to consumer confidence, industry figures show retail sales and discretionary spending on entertainment, meals out and little luxuries rose sharply last month.