LONDON (Reuters) -British retail sales rose by a much stronger-than-expected 1.7% in January, the biggest increase since May last year, according to official data published on Friday that suggested consumers were happy to spend despite a weak outlook for the economy.

Retail sales slipped 0.9% for the month from an upwardly revised 0.7% gain in December, even worse than the Dow Jones estimate for a 0.2% decline. The sales totals are adjusted for seasonality but not inflation for a month in which prices rose 0.5%.

U.S. retail sales fell more than expected in January, likely as frigid temperatures kept consumers from automobile showrooms. Retail sales dropped 0.9% last month after an upwardly revised 0.7% increase in December,