The sales volume in the three months August to October increased by 1.4 per cent compared with the previous three months. This follows 1.6 per cent growth in the three months to September.

Three-monthly growth in sales volume was 1.4 per cent for predominantly non-food stores. Three-monthly growth was reported in each sector of retailing, with non-store retailing and repair increasing by 2.8 per cent and textile, clothing and footwear stores increasing by 2.3 per cent.

Total sales volume in the three months to October was 5.1 per cent higher than the same period a year ago. Sales volume for predominantly non-food stores was 6.9 per cent higher than a year ago.

Total sales volume decreased by 0.1 per cent between September and October. The largest decreases occurred in textile, clothing and footwear stores (-0.5 per cent) and predominantly food stores (-0.4 per cent). The largest increase occurred in non-store retailing and repair (1.7 per cent).

The non-seasonally adjusted value of retail sales for the three months to October was 3.7 per cent higher than in the same period a year earlier. The average weekly value of sales in October was £5.1 billion, 3.2 per cent higher than in October 2006.

Sales by predominantly food stores increased by 3.0 per cent over the year, compared with 2.8 per cent for predominantly non-food stores and 8.4 per cent for non-store retailing and repair. Sales by textile, clothing and footwear stores increased by 1.2 per cent, the smallest increase for this sector since March 2006 (0.3 per cent).