Retail sales volumes increased 0.6 per cent between August and September, with the largest increases occurring in non-food, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics.

The highest growth was for household goods, but growth was also reported across the board, except for textile, clothing and footwear retailers.

Sales by predominantly non-food stores increased 5.5 per cent over the year, compared with a rise of 3.7 per cent for food stores.

The average weekly value of sales in September was£4.9 billion, 4.6 per cent higher than the previous year.

In the three months to September, retail sales rose 1.7 per cent, compared with a 1.3 per cent rise in the three-months to August. In the three-months to September last year, sales increased just 0.5 per cent.