Between August and September UK retail sales jumped up 1.5%, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The increase was nearly double the previous month’s 0.8% increase and meant that sales are now 5.5% higher than those seen during pre-pandemic levels in February. 

The ONS data showed that the three months to September saw the biggest increase in retail sales on record, up 17.4% when compared with the previous quarter.