British retailers report Christmas sales bonanza

Britain's retail sales growth gained momentum in December as shops saw a better-than-typical run-up in the sales approaching Christmas, according to the Confederation of British industry (CBI), in a monthly survey.

In its distributive trades survey, the CBI said that retail sales for the first three weeks of December were sharply higher than for the same period in 2002.

The report covers retailers, wholesalers, and motor vehicle distributors.

Of 140 retailing respondents, over half said sales rose in December compared to the previous year, while one-fifth said sales were down.

The net balance of all retailers reporting increased sales is at 33%, up from 19% in November.