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High street volume sales in August were higher than this time last year, with summer sales and school holidays helping get customers into shops.
According to the CBI quarterly distributive trades survey, over half of retailers surveyed (53%) said the volume of sales rose during the first two weeks in August. Just 18% said it had fallen. This is the second consecutive year on year increase.
Lai Wah Co, CBI head of economic analysis, said: "Better sales growth continued on the high street in early August, and retailers are upbeat about prospects in the coming three months. The summer sales, some warmer weather and the school holidays will no doubt have helped, lifting sales of clothing and shoes and encouraging households to invest in some home improvements."
Wah Co added: "Retailers are hopeful that strong sales growth will continue next month. However, the broader outlook for consumer spending is still uncertain, given the VAT rise next year, subdued pay awards and the feed-through of public spending cuts to job losses."