UK retail sales grew for the sixth consecutive month in October.
Retail sales increased by 1.2% in October, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.
Retail sales have increased by 6.7% since February.
Online sales increased by 52.8%, but in-store sales fell by 3.3%.
“Retail sales continued to grow more strongly recently despite the introduction of several regional lockdowns in October,” followed by Jonathan Atau, associate statistician of national statistician for economic statistics.
“Feedback from the shop suggested that some consumers may have submitted Christmas shopping prior to the possibility of further restrictions, and online stores also saw strong sales boosted by widespread offers.
“However, due to slow recovery in clothing sales, it has stagnated after five consecutive months of sales increase.”
The only sectors below pre-pandemic levels are clothing stores and fuel.
Analysts warn that this could be the final growth in sales ahead of the new limits.
Lisa Hooker, PWC’s consumer market leader, said: “There have been recovery in almost every category in the sector, measuring the period until October 31. These numbers do not include the final rush to High Street after the second lockdown was announced.
“In fact, fashion is the only category that shows a material decline in sales, and demand for opportunity clothing and workwear has already continued to strike the troubling parts of the market.
“At the beginning of this month, the closure of non-essential stores and poor consumer sentiment has seriously hindered the sector for more than a month, going a week ahead on Christmas and Black Friday.
“With an eye on December, retailers are hoping to lift lockdown restrictions quickly as their online delivery capabilities are already reaching their limits, and we will continue to show that consumers can return to spending mode, as they did after the initial lockdown was lifted in June.”
