British consumer spending slid in February as bad weather kept shoppers at home, according to a survey on Tuesday that showed households remained cautious to spend in the face of high borrowing costs and inflation. The British Retail Consortium (BRC) said consumer spending increased by 1.1% in February from a year earlier, representing a fall after inflation is taken into account, and slightly below the 1.2% rise in January. "As many households continue to adapt budgets to meet higher essential costs, including higher mortgage rates, consumer reluctance to get out there and start spending is likely to remain in the ... (full story)