Food and drink still strong after festive high
UK retail like-for-like sales increased 3.3 per cent in February, compared with a rise of 0.6 per cent the previous year and total sales were up 5.6 per cent, according to the British Retail Consortium's (BRC) monthly sales figures.

Food and drink sales remained strong, though growth slowed a little from January's six-month high. However, clothing and footwear sales were largely flat.

Furniture sales were down on a year ago and house textiles, toiletries and cosmetics also slowed. Home accessory sales remained good, though were often driven by discounts.

According to the BRC, consumer confidence weakened again in February, as big-ticket sales fell back.

For the three months to February, sales rose 3 per cent on a like-for-like basis and total sales were up 5 per cent. This compares to like-for-likes of 2.1 per cent in the three months to January and total sales of 4.1 per cent.

BRC director general Kevin Hawkins said: 'A reasonably good set of results, very much in line with January's out-turn, although similarly set against flat sales last year. Clothing and big-ticket categories in general, however, remain sluggish and growth remains heavily slanted towards the grocery sector. It would appear that the November and January rate increases have yet to work through to consumer spending.'