HIGH street retailers recorded their strongest New Year sales growth for three years,

according to the CBI.

The business organisation’s latest Distributive Trades Survey claimed that half (51 per cent) of the respondents said January sales volumes were higher than a year ago, while 21 per cent said they were lower.

The balance - the difference between the percentage of retailers reporting an increase and those reporting a decrease - of plus 30 per cent is the highest reading for January since 2004 and far exceeded retailers' modest predictions of plus four per cent.

Malcolm Hyde, CBI South East regional director, said: "It was a much better story than retailers had expected.

"However, the strong performance of the sector should not mask the fact that there will have been individual winners and losers on the high street."