CONSUMERS stocking up on warm clothing ahead of winter gave retail sales a boost last month, figures have shown.

Retail sales grew by 2.6 per cent on a like-for-like basis and by 5.5 per cent on a total basis against a year earlier, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC)-KPMG Sales Monitor for September.

However, three-month trend rates of growth declined to 2.5 per cent last month from 2.6 per cent in August for like-for-like sales and remained at 5.4 per cent for total sales.

After the record hot temperatures boosted August spending, the consortium said sales became steadier as the weather became more consistent with the season.

Autumn and winter ranges of clothing and footwear gave sales a lift as the weather became more autumnal, the BRC said.

Last month saw the end of a successful back-to-school period, the consortium added.