Sales on the high street have bounced back after a terrible January with a better-than-expected rise of 2.1 per cent in February.

Figures for January were much worse than originally thought, with sales volumes down by three per cent against the initial estimation of a 1.8 per cent decline, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

While the rise in February sales volumes beat market forecasts, the year-on-year increase of 3.5 per cent was far lower than experts had predicted.

The January revision meant that the retail sector suffered its worst sales performance in a year and a half during the month, before bouncing back in February as the weather improved and consumers spent the money saved in January.

ONS figures showed that by value, sales rose by the highest amount since the summer of 2008, up 1.9 per cent month on month and by 4.9 per cent on a year earlier.

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) said they confirm February sales values were up on a year ago.

BRC director general Stephen Robertson said: “The official data confirm our findings that the total value of sales in February was well up on a year earlier.

“But these figures may not be all they seem. The growth is compared with very weak figures a year ago, when February saw the worst of last winter's weather. This February's performance was helped by sales postponed from January - particularly sales of non-food items such as furniture and fashion. But food sales growth slowed, as customers had stocked up in January’s wintry weather and food inflation is falling.

“Consumers are certainly more positive than a year ago but job worries, tax increases and uncertainty over what is still to come after the general election are causing customers to remain cautious.”

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