Retail news round-up on September 18, 2015: August retail sales up just 0.2% and Amazon unveils $50 Fire tablet and upgraded Fire TV.

August retail sales inches up 0.2%

British retail sales volume rose 3.7% year on year last month, with spending totalling about £27.4bn.

Meanwhile, sales edged up 0.2% in August after stalling in July and falling by 0.1% in June, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Clothes and shoe sales increased 2.3% last month, driven by sales of school uniforms.

Food sales and household goods sales declined 0.9% and 3.4% in August, respectively.

Amazon launches new Fire tablet and upgraded Fire TV

Amazon is poised to take on rival Apple after unveiling its revamped Fire TV and 7-inch Fire tablet costing $50.

The tablet will run on the newest version of the Fire operating system based on Android and will be available from September 30.

Amazon also launched a new 8.1-inch Fire HD tablet at $149 (£130 in the UK) and a 10-inch device for $229 (£170).

The retailer unveiled an upgraded Fire TV 4K media box for $100 (£80) and a new Fire TV Stick with voice remote for $50 (£45 in the UK).

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