Capital's retail sales outperform UK again
Retail sales in central London increased by nearly 10 per cent during February compared with the same period last year, according to the latest London Retail Sales Monitor (LRC).

London sales once again outperformed UK sales for the fourth consecutive month. Last year, sales for February fell 0.4 per cent, but sales are now catching up after a four-month decline following the terrorist attack last July.

The three-month trend rate of growth also improved by 2 per cent to 7.1 per cent in February, compared with a 4.8 per cent increase in January.

Footfall also strengthened further in contrast to a decline for the UK as a whole.

This was because of an increase in both foreign and UK visitors. Many retailers also enjoyed a good response to their spring and summer fashions, while Valentine's Day helped gift and perfumery sales. However, homewares sales remained lacklustre, in spite of some uplift.

LRC director Kevin Hawkins said: 'A very useful increase in customer footfall in central London has helped to generate this exceptional rate of growth. This in turn reflects the ongoing recovery from the events of last July, which retailers will be doing their best to sustain.'

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