Retail sales up 9.9% in the capital, with improved footfall, while the country as whole saw an increase of just 2.2% in February.
London's 9.9% like-for-like (lfl) increase is compared with a 5.8% sales rise in the same period last year, while the snow in January 2010 resulted in a growth of just 3.4%.

While February was cold and wet, it was still less disruptive than the icy weather the previous month, explained the British Retail Consortium (BRC). As a result, retail footfall in the capital improved but remained below its year-earlier level.

However, the rest of the UK struggled with an increase of just 2.2% - a lfl figure that the BRC also stressed had weak comparisons, as sales in February 2009 had dropped by 1.8%, hit by snow and consumer caution.

Both London and the rest of the UK saw sales of homewares pick up, while, in London, clothing and footwear benefited from the cold weather and extended discounts.

The pound's weakness continued to attract overseas visitors, especially from Western Europe, China and the Middle East.

BRC director general Stephen Robertson said: "This is a strong bounce back for sales after winter weather put many people off shopping in January. London sales growth is back to rates more typical of late 2009, confirming that January's poor performance was a snow-induced blip.

Sales held very from January, when many people couldn't easily get out, is one element. More fundamentally, London consumers are less worries about their own situations and the wider economy than they were last year and than people in other parts of the country. Plus overseas visitors are flocking in as the weak pound makes London a cheap place to be and buy."