December sales stronger than expected says BRC
UK retail sales values rose 4.2 per cent on a like-for-like basis from December 2008, when sales had dropped 3.3 per cent, due to turmoil in financial markets hitting consumer confidence.
On a total basis, sales rose 6.0 per cent against a 1.4 per cent decline in December 2008.
Food sales growth picked up to its strongest since June, partly reflecting higher food price inflation. Wintry weather gave a good boost to clothing and footwear. Homewares sales showed further gains but against larger declines a year ago. Furniture slowed but health and beauty picked up, helped by Christmas gifting.
Non-food non-store sales (internet, mail-order and phone sales) in December were 26.5 per cent higher than a year ago compared with 16.9 per cent in November. Some benefited from shoppers buying online when snow prevented them getting out.
