Official statistics have shown that UK retail sales rose 2.2% in September, beating forecasts.
Analysts had anticipated a rise of 2.1%.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said that, with three month-on-three month growth rates increasing for seven consecutive months, these estimates show an underlying trend of growth in the retail industry.

Of the four main retail sectors, non-food stores and non-store retailing saw an increase in the quantity bought in September 2013 compared with September 2012, with increases of 3.6% and 19.1% respectively. Food stores and petrol stations (including supermarket petrol stations) saw falls in the quantity bought of 0.6% and 2.4% respectively over the same period.