- For Many in US, It Will Be a Scaled-Down Holiday Season
- New-Home Sales Jump to Highest Level in Over Year
- Judge Erases Couple's $525,000 Mortgage Payment
- Where Do Pardoned Turkeys Go?
- US Bonds Pare Losses After 7-Year Auction
- Claims Level Suggests End to Job Losses
- Consumers Catching the Holiday Spirit
- Activision Prepares to Double Dip on ‘Modern Warfare 2’
- Airlines Hit With Penalties for Stranding Passengers
- Consumers Catching the Holiday Spirit
- It's Beginning To Look A Lot More Riskless
- Crescenzi: Claims Level Suggests End to Job Losses
- Hedge Funds Take Early Lead in Warren Buffett's 'Big Bet'
- S&P Stocks Trading at New 52-Week Highs
- 4 Food Stocks to Stuff in Your Portfolio: Analyst
- S&P at 1050-1200 Trading Range Next Year: Strategist
- Treasury On Mortgage Modifications
- Blue Jeans Expected to See Another Green Christmas
MOST SHARED
- Ritz-Carlton ?Struggling? in the US: President
- Garlic Price Rises Surpass Gold, Stocks in China
- New-Home Sales Jump 6.2% To Highest Level in Over Year
- Half of Banks' Losses May Still Be Hidden: IMF Head
- Oil Price to Average $75.40 in 2010: Poll
- S&P Stocks Trading at New 52-Week Highs
- Americans Ditch Planes for Trains this Thanksgiving
- Consumer Mood Improves, But Anxiety Over Personal Finances
- Jobless Claims Below 500,000, Durable Orders Slip
Text Size 
British retail sales values rose last month at their fastest annual pace since April to notch up their best showing for a month of October in seven years, a survey showed on Tuesday.
 |
The British Retail Consortium said the value of like-for-like sales rose 3.8 percent in October compared with a year ago. That was the biggest rise since April, when sales were bolstered by Easter, and compared with a rise of 2.8 percent in September.
The value of total sales -- which includes new floorspace -- was 5.9 percent higher than a year ago, also the biggest rise since April.
On both measures, the rise was the strongest for a month of October since 2002. However, the BRC noted that the figures had been flattered by comparison with a particularly poor month last year, following the collapse of U.S. investment bank Lehman Brothers.
"These are encouraging results," said BRC Director General Stephen Robertson. "They are, however, compared to dreadful figures last year."
For the second month running, the non-food sector outperformed the food sector, with sales of clothing, footwear and furniture performing particularly well.
Growth in non-food store sales showed a year-on-year gain of 18 percent, up from 11.9 percent in September and the strongest increase since July.
"As we approach Christmas, optimism is certainly up," said Helen Dickenson, head of retail at KPMG.
"However, the longer-term outlook remains considerably more challenging given the economic backdrop, levels of unemployment, uncertainty regarding the impending VAT rise and the impact of future fiscal policy following next year's election."
- Here's how key provisions of the health care reform bill would impact your insurance and how you'll pay for it.
- Remember when auto shows were major events where new models could generate buzz?
- It may be the most unusual guide to business you'll read.
- After nine years the NBA’s minor league equivalent is finally coming into its own.
- Bill Griffeth is taking a leave of absence from CNBC and Power Lunch for a year. Here's a message from Bill.
- For nearly three decades, these on-call experts have been dishing advice on how to – and not to – cook turkey.
Data is a real-time snapshot *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes