Retail sales in the capital up 12% like-for-like on December 2008, with big-ticket items selling well in clearance.
Despite footfall dropping back below its year-earlier level, as a result of wintry weather and later discounting, retail sales in central London in December were 12% higher on a like-for-like basis than the same period in 2008.

The rise was measured against a 0.7% drop in December 2008, when financial turmoil depressed consumer confidence. London sales in December 2009 were much stronger than the UK as a whole, where like-for-like sales rose 4.2% year-on-year, against a 3.3% fall in December 2008.

Homewares showed gains for many but against a very weak December 2008. Big-ticket items such as large electricals and furniture were popular in clearance sales.