Retail sales inched up 0.6% on a total basis during the month, compared with an increase of 1.3% in October 2018, according to the BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor.

This was the best performance since April 2019 and above the three-month average decline of 0.3% and 12-month increase of 0.1% – a new record low.

On a like-for-like basis, UK retail sales increased just 0.1% compared to October 2018. However, this is above the three- and 12-month averages of -0.8% and -0.4% respectively.

Food like for likes increased 0.5%, and 1.6% on a total basis, during the three months to October as non-food sales for the same period decreased 1.9% on a like-for-like basis and 1.8% on a total basis.