Rising clothing and food prices helped UK retailers enjoy an uptick in sales growth last month, latest industry figures show.
Like-for-like sales grew by 1.9% in September compared to the same month last year, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC)-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor.
That was the strongest pace of growth – excluding distortions caused by the timing of Easter – since January last year.
The BRC said consumers focused on essentials with products such as back to school items and warm winter coats doing well.
Big ticket items such as furniture and electrical appliances struggled.
BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson said the overall pace of growth should be welcome for retailers and the economy.
“Looking beneath the surface though, we see that much of this growth is being driven by price increases filtering through, particularly in food and clothing, which were the highest performing product categories for the month.
“Retailers have worked hard to keep a lid on price rises following the depreciation of the pound, but with a potent mix of more expensive imports and increasing business costs from various government policies, something had to give at some point.
“From a consumer perspective, spending is still being focussed towards essential purchases; with consumers buying their winter coats and back to school items, but shying away from big ticket items such as furniture and delaying the renewal of key household electrical goods.”
Source: Sky