Sales across Britain’s retail sector strongly rebounded in January thanks to a resurgence at food stores.
According to the Office for National Statistics, retail sales climbed by 1.7% over the month, against a downwardly revised 0.6% drop in December.
Renewed growth at food stores, where sales jumped by 5.6%, offset declines for the likes of household, clothing and textile goods, alongside automotive fuel.
ONS senior statistician Hannah Finselbach noted food stores had enjoyed their strongest month since March 2020 on the growth.
"Supermarkets, alcohol and tobacco stores as well as specialist shops like butchers and bakers all reported strong trading," she said.
However, weak consumer confidence was said to have hit clothing shops and household goods stores, where sales fell 2.7% and 1.7% respectively.
The overall uptick trounced analyst expectations, which had been for a 0.2% increase in retail sales in January.