Office of National Statistics reports steady growth driven by food and household goods.
Retail sales rose by 0.8% in three months November to January, the Office of National Statistics (ONS) reports.

The retail sales growth in January reversed a revised 0.2% decline recorded in December.

The largest contributions to the growth came from food stores, which showed 0.7% increase in sales and household goods store sales climbed 4.3%, the largest increase since August 2006, the ONS stated.

The price deflator - a measure of price changes across retailing sectors - for January was 1.2% lower than the prior year; the seventh consecutive decline.

The ONS said electrical goods had been discounted by 15% from a year earlier.

Its figures also reported internet sales continue to rise.