The CBI's September monthly retail sales survey - conducted between Aug. 25 and Sept. 13 - showed the headline balance rebound to a three-month high of -14 from August's more than two year low of -44.
"There are some elements of optimism in our survey with retailers expecting the recent fall in sales to continue to ease," CBI Principal Economist Martin Sartorius said.
Retailers' expected sales balance for October rose to a three-month high of -8.
Britain's most recent official retail sales data showed a 0.8% month-on-month growth in sales volumes in August after a sharp 1.1% drop in July, when unusually wet weather upset normal summer spending patterns.
The chief executive of supermarket Aldi UK said on Monday that cost of living concerns continued to influence food shopping habits.
Persons:
Peter Nicholls, Martin Sartorius, David Milliken, Kylie MacLellan
Organizations:
REUTERS, of British Industry, CBI, Bank of, Aldi, Thomson
Locations:
London, Britain, Bank of England