Retail sales have recovered strongly in the year to December, bouncing back after two disappointing months, the CBI has announced.
Department stores, grocers and clothing shops, which had seen sales fall in the year to November, saw sales rebound strongly, according to the CBI's latest Distributive Trades Survey of 106 firms.

Retailers expect robust growth in sales volumes to continue in the year to January.

Elsewhere, wholesalers' sales were broadly flat on a year ago, for a second consecutive month.

Barry Williams, chair of the CBI Distributive Trades Survey Panel, said: "After a disappointing couple of months, sales volumes in December recovered their sparkle, beating retailers' expectations.

"Customers have clearly held off spending through the autumn and we're only now seeing them start to hit the stores. Retailers are optimistic for the New Year."