UK retail sales up despite January cold snap

Retailers in the UK weathered the snowstorms that swept Britain last month after sales were boosted by shoppers tempted out with new year offers and promotions, figures showed today.

The British Retail Consortium said like-for-like January retail sales grew at the fastest rate since December 2011, up 1.9% on the previous year, as shoppers also bought televisions, tablet computers and smartphones.