YEAR-on-year growth in UK retail sales volumes has accelerated in recent weeks, even though consumer confidence has fallen, surveys show.

Subtracting the proportion experiencing a fall from that reporting a rise, the Confederation of British Industry’s distributive trades survey shows a net 49 per cent of retailers achieved a year-on-year increase in sales volumes in late August and early September. In the previous month’s survey, a net 24 per cent of retailers reported a year-on-year rise in sales volumes.

But GfK’s latest UK consumer confidence index, published today, shows a four-point drop between August and September to +3.

GfK highlighted a “dip in people feeling good about the wider economy and their own personal economic circumstances”.

Joe Staton, head of market dynamics at GfK, said of consumers’ views “The biggest decrease in the index this month comes in how we think the general economic situation in this country has changed over the past 12 months, and our expectations for the general economic situation in this country over the next 12 months.”

The GfK survey also shows a decline in people’s confidence about making major purchases.

The CBI survey, conducted between August 26 and September 15, shows the grocery sector and specialist food and drink retailers recording strong year-on-year growth in sales volumes.

It also signals strong trading for clothing retailers.

Rain Newton-Smith, CBI director of economics, said: “As the summer has been drawing to a close, consumers have been out on the high street boosting sales and orders for UK retailers.

“Low inflation and the recovery in wage growth are helping to stimulate consumer demand, but the slowdown in the global economy and tight [profit] margins mean retailers won’t get ahead of themselves as we head into autumn.”