Pound up vs broadly slipping dollar, UK data awaited

* Sterling up 0.3 percent at $1.8680, boosted by dlr slide * UK retail sales due at 0830 GMT expected to come in weak * Pound seen under broad pressure as economy struggles

LONDON, Aug 21 (Reuters) - Sterling rose against the dollar on Thursday, boosted by broad losses in the U.S. currency on rebounding oil, while UK retail sales data were expected to show that a slowing economy is continuing to curb consumption.

Oil prices recovered, climbing as much as 1 percent on the day, which prompted a slide in the dollar across the board.

That offered a much-needed boost to the pound, which is hovering near a two-year low on the view that a weakening economy will require interest rate cuts.

Retail figures due at 0830 GMT are expected to show sales fell 0.3 percent on the month in August as UK shoppers shy away from the high street, with a weak figure likely to trigger a reverasal in sterling gains.

"You've got to expect weaker data during an economic slowdown ... and I see no reason why retail sales will be anything but poor today," said Paul Robson, strategist at RBS Global Banking.

Sterling GBP= traded 0.3 percent higher at $1.8680 at 0730 GMT, having popped up to $1.8702 as the dollar .DXY fell around half a percent against a basket of major currencies.

Still, the UK currency remains in range of $1.8510 hit late last week for the first time in more than two years on the view that UK rate cuts from 5 percent will erode sterling's yield advantage against other currencies.