Consumer confidence is recovering, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC).
The BRC said that the number of UK retail sales grew last month: like-for-like retail sales in January…were up by 1.9% compared with the same period last year.
This is the biggest year-on-year increase since December 2011.
The industry body said sales were given a boost by the popularity of smart phones and tablet computers, with special offers attracting shoppers.
“Recovering consumer confidence” gave “a more successful January than we saw last year”, said the Director General of the BRC Helen Dickinson.
This is good news for the high street after a somewhat turbulent January for some retailers, with Blockbusters, HMV and Jessops all going into administration.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-21331933