UK retail sales values rose 2.2% on a like-for-like basis from February 2009, when sales had dropped 1.8%, hit by snow and consumer caution. On a total basis, sales rose 4.5% against only 0.1% growth in February 2009.

Food sales slowed further after shoppers had stocked up during January's snow. Lower food inflation and consumer caution also depressed sales. Non-food recovered, having been hit by January's snow, but growth was often against larger declines a year ago. Clothing and footwear showed stronger gains than in January and homewares and furniture returned to growth.

Non-food non-store sales (internet, mail-order and phone sales) in February were 15.5% higher than a year ago compared with 14.6% in January. The very cold and wet weather, and shoppers receiving catalogues whose delivery had been delayed by snow, helped to boost sales.