New figures show that retail insurance holders saw the fastest rising sales of the past two years in the run-up to Christmas.
The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) found that a net balance of 13 per cent of retail insurance holders experienced an increasing volume of sales in the year to November.
While this was not as strong as the predicted balance of 19 per cent, it represents the most positive result since the 13 per cent of November 2007.
In addition, a balance of 19 per cent of retail insurance holders believe that December sales will improve on the levels recorded last year.
Andy Clarke, chairman of the CBI distributive trades panel, commented: "It's reassuring that the high street now has a second month of sales growth behind it, and it looks like December will be even better."
Earlier this month, the British Retail Consortium revealed that October sales growth was the best seen for the past seven years, increasing 3.8 per cent on the same month last year.
