Retail sales grew year-on-year for a third consecutive month during November, with the balance of shop owners reporting an improvement in trade rising to the highest point since June.
According to figures from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), 49 per cent of retailers reported a higher volume of sales compared with November 2011 and 16 per cent said that trade was down on last year.
This left a balance of 33 per cent, above the expected 27 per cent.
Year-on-year sales improved in nine out of 13 retail sectors, with grocers reporting a third consecutive increase. Elsewhere, sales of clothing were much stronger than expected, although trade had weakened slightly compared with October.
Nevertheless, a net 15 per cent of retailers thought that the volume of sales was still below normal for the time of year – much higher than four per cent predicted.
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