Retail sales volumes reached the highest index level since July 2022, according to official figures.
They have been estimated to have grown 0.3% in September, following a 1.0% rise in August 2024.
During the year to September 2024, sales volumes rose by 3.9%, which the Official of National Statistics reports is the largest annual rise since February 2022.
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When compared with the pre-pandemic level in February 2020, volumes were down by 0.2%.
There was a 1.9% increase during quarter three, when compared with quarter two, the joint largest since March 2024 and this quarterly rise was across all sectors.
Non-food stores sales volumes – the total of department, clothing, household and other non-food stores – rose by 2.5% in September 2024, following a rise of 0.6% in August.
The amount spent online, rose by 1.3% during September 2024, and by 6.7% compared with September 2023.
Online household goods stores were up 3.7% in value, however non-store (or pure play) online retailers declined by 1.1%.