Retail sales in January fell by value and volume month-on-month but climbed year-on-year, the Office for National Statistics reported.

Under new methodology which now includes automotive fuel sales, retail sales were down 1.3% by value and 1.8% by volume. Excluding fuel, the declines were 0.6% and 1.2% respectively.

Snow and cold weather is likely to have had an impact.

However sales by value were ahead 3.2% on January 2009 and 0.9% by volume. Excluding fuel the increases were 3.7% and 2.6% respectively.

In January, value sales by non-specialised non-food stores showed the biggest year on year change – up 8.8%. Clothing and footwear stores’ sales rose 3% but household goods shops were down 7.8%. Food store sales climbed 3%.Non-store retailing was ahead by 17.8%.

By volume, clothing and footwear shops were up 6.7% year-on-year and non-specialised stores by 8%. Household goods was down 10.3% and non-store retailing up 17%.