UK gaming sales defy spending squeeze

The UK games market defied the consumer spending squeeze to hit a record £5bn last year, industry figures show. Trade body UK Interactive Entertainment (Ukie) credited the 12.4% growth from 2016 to "an ever expanding audience". Game software accounted for the majority of sales, with online and digital games the most popular. Non-digital boxed games also saw a surprise small rise in sales, driven by the popularity of titles such as Fifa 18, Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto. The growth in gaming sales came despite the fact that wages have been rising at a slower pace than inflation - and shoppers have less disposable income to spend in stores.