City sales up 7.5% as milder weather encourages people out to the shops and the weakness of the pound attracts overseas visitors.
Retail sales in central London were up 7.5% in September on a like-for-like basis compared with a year ago, according to the BRC-KPMG London Retail Sales Monitor - September 2009. Sales for the rest of the UK were up 2.8%.

Sales figures dropped 0.2% in September 2008, as financial turmoil hit consumer confidence. However, drier, milder weather in September this year helped boost sales, encouraging people to get out to the shops. Sterling's weakness against the Euro also continued to attract western European shoppers.

Sales in central London for the three months to September were up 1.7% on the same period a year ago, while the rest of the UK saw a 1.6% uplift over the three months.

An improvement in consumer confidence in consumer confidence and the housing market was also reflected in an uplift in sales of homewares and furniture sales, said the BRC.

However, British Retail Consortium (BRC) director general Stephen Robertson warned of unfair comparatives. "This is dramatically different from the previous month's figure. It is the strongest London sales growth recorded since August 2008. But it must be treated with caution. This August's figure was compared with a strong performance a year ago. Whereas, September's figure is compared with a very weak performance last year - when sales began to slump as the global financial crisis developed."

He added: "London outperformed the rest of the UK, boosted by overseas visitors taking advantage of the weak pound. These results offer as glimpse of optimism in the all important run-up to Christmas. But consumer confidence is volatile and could easily slip back."

KPMG head of retail Helen Dickinson said: "Weak comparatives and mixed performances make it too early to draw conclusions on the strength of consumer spending in the capital."