17/11/2005

'Modest' three month gains in UK retail sales

There are some signs of a modest recovery in the retail sales sector of the UK economy.

Office of National Statistics figures published today revealed that the volume of retail sales indicates modest growth over recent months, following a period of no overall growth from late 2004 to mid 2005.

Between September and October the volume of sales rose 0.2%, reflecting increases in all sectors except textile, clothing and footwear stores and non-store retailers.

In the three months to October, the seasonally adjusted index for retail sales at constant 2000 prices was 0.7% higher than the previous three months.

The volume of sales in predominantly food stores in the latest three months increased by 0.4% compared with the previous three months. In predominantly non-food stores sales were up 1.2%.

Based on non-seasonally adjusted data, the average weekly value of retail sales in October was £4,780 million, 0.3% higher than in October 2004 and 4.6% higher than in September. In August to October the value of sales in current prices was 0.2% higher than in the same period a year earlier.

(SP/KMcA)

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