Americans spent a bit more at retailers last month, providing a small boost to the economy just as the Federal Reserve considers how much to cut its key interest rate.

LONDON (Reuters) -British retail sales rose by a stronger-than-expected 1% in August and growth in July was revised up, official figures showed on Friday. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast a monthly rise of 0.

Retail sales edged up by 0.1% from July to August, according to the Commerce Department. This modest increase follows a larger surge last month, which marked the highest growth rate in retail sales in a year and a half.