Grocery sales have showed the fastest year-on-year sales increase for the second month in a row according to latest figures published by the CBI's latest monthly Distributive Trades Survey.
Retail sales growth recovered in September but by a lot less than expected. After strong growth in July, sales were stifled by the extreme heat of August. With return to more normal trading conditions retailers expected a significant bounce back but much of it failed to materialise although grocery sales were the clear winners.
CBI chief economist, Ian McCafferty, said: "Retailers will be pleased that sales have gone on growing at a reasonably healthy rate despite household incomes being squeezed by tax increases, low wage rises and a mixed jobs market...expectations for October remain upbeat. Whether they are met will depend on consumers remaining confident enough to keep borrowing."
The underlying rate of growth has recovered from the weak period at the start of the year and is expected to improve again next month.
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