DIY up as high streets enjoy January sales

The DIY sector has been enjoying strong January sales on the high street, according to data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC).

Home accessories, electricals and DIY were among the retail sectors singled out in the report as having shown a strong start to the year.

Overall UK retails sales, including DIY, were up 3.1 per cent on a like for like basis compared with January 2006, when sales only rose by 0.2 per cent.

The three month trend rate of growth had also climbed to 2.1 per cent from 1.9 per cent in December - indicating a buoyant retail industry.

Kevin Hawkins, the director general of the BRC, said: "The momentum which built up in December has carried through into the new year and this is the best January report for three years."

It seems that for the time being the DIY sector, along with the retail industry at large, will not be affected by the Bank of England''s recent interest rate hikes.

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