Great October Retail Sales

The value of UK retail sales for October on a like-for-like basis rose 3.8% over the year from October 2008 and 5.9% on a total basis across all categories. Food sales slowed again, clothing and footwear growth increased and homewares and furniture also gained helped by consumer confidence and the housing market. These gains should be set against the larger declines of last year. Internet, mail order and phone sales increased by 18% in October compared with 11.9% in September in line with store sales.