September’s like-for-like retail sales in central London were 6.8 per cent higher than a year ago, according to the BRC’s London Retail Sales monitor.

This is a good gain on the 13.3 per cent year-on-year increase in September 2006, when sales were recovering from the July 2005 bombings. However, monthly sales growth was the weakest since May.

Retail footfall rose above last year, according to the footfall index SPSL, with cooler weather drawing customers into shops earlier.

Clothing and footwear sales were well above last September's, with upmarket designer fashions, handbags and jewellery remaining popular. Beauty products had another good month, but homewares were more mixed, with some larger purchases slowed by consumer caution.