date:Oct 18, 2013
Retail sales grew by 0.6% in September compared with the previous month, following an unexpected fall in August.
The Office for National Statistics also said sales volumes had risen by 2.2% compared with September 2012, despite a fall of sales in supermarkets.
Food sales, which surged during July's heatwave, fell for a second month in September.
The retail sales figures are based on a monthly survey of 5,000 UK retailers.
The performance of the retail industry is always seen as an indicator