Grocers and specialist food shops enjoyed a bumper start to Christmas with significant increases in sales in the first two weeks of December, according to a recent report.

The CBI's monthly Distributive Trade Survey (DTS), published yesterday, showed that UK retailers experienced the fastest year-on-year sales growth in a December survey since 1987.

In the report, grocers and specialist food shops said sales were up by 47 and 46 per cent, respectively. Wholesalers' sales remained stable, although a modest increase in annual growth had been expected.

Alistair Eperon, chairman of the DTS panel said: 'December's significant increase in sales growth, following two months of weak growth, is very encouraging. Early indications show that the robust start to the Christmas period continued throughout December.

'It is vital that consumer spending remains strong when other parts of the economy are so weak. If the reatil sector can maintain this position it will provide underlying strength to the UK economy as we go into the new year.' The Distributive Trades Survey covers over 20,000 firms responsible for 40 per cent of employment in retailing.