UK retail sales recorded a strong start to the year, as like-for-likes increased 2.6%, according to the BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor.

Food – down

Despite entering positive growth in December, food sales dropped slightly in January. New year’s resolutions took fold, with alcoholic drinks recording a drop in sales, while demand for healthy food grew.

Clothing – up

Retailers were cheered by the strong demand for Sales products in January, as the cold weather in the first two weeks of the month led to customers still eager to pick up winter clothes – knitwear and outerwear singled out as two strong product lines. In clothing, kidswear enjoyed the best performance, as parents picked up new school uniforms for their children. Clothing retailers noted that footfall picked up in stores, after two months of decline.

Footwear – up

Those in the footwear trade were pleased with their January Sales, especially after the mild weather in the last few months of 2015 did nothing to help shift stock. Boots sold well and there was good demand for sport shoes and children’s school shoes.

Health and beauty – up

Fragrances on Sale, slimming products and cosmetics were singled out as three top performers for health and beauty retailers in the first month of the year. Cough medicine was down owing to the relatively mild weather. Footcare sales were up.

Furniture – up

Furniture recorded the highest growth of all product categories in January, traditionally a bumper month for furniture retailers.

Home accessories – up

Driven in part to growth from cooking and dining acccessories, the sector achieved the third-highest growth of all categories in January.

House textiles – up 

House textiles achieved a top-five position in the growth rankings table, with the sector hitting its best performance since September.

Toys and baby equipment – up

The sector was the second-highest category in the rankings table in January, with some customers still picking up popular items such as Lego blocks, which had sold out before Christmas.

Household appliances – up 

Like the furniture category, white goods and large appliances enjoyed good growth last month, while customers picking up small domestic appliances and heaters and radiators. Fitness products including vibration plates and tech wristbands remained popular with customers.

Jewellery and watches – up 

The category achieved its best growth since July, although it was up against an easier comparable than in December.

Other non-food – up

Electricals and electronics

Audio and video were cited as the strongest performers of the category in January, with renewed demand for TVs. The other drivers of the category were mobile phones and computing.

Leisure goods: gaming, books, CDs and DVDs 

Physical books continued to see a revival in January with demand for colouring books continuing. Gaming continued to suffer from the lack of new hardware launches.

DIY and gardening 

It was a solid month for the sector thanks to the strong housing market for DIY and the milder weather for gardening.

Department stores

Department stores reported a good month for January, as customers visited to get their hands on Sale items, driving footfall and generating good demand for new ranges as well.

Big-ticket sales drive industry like-for-likes up 2.6% in January