Retail sales rose in January, surprising economists

Retail sales rose 0.9% in January compared with December, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The figure was much stronger than forecast as many economists had expected sales volumes to fall.

But it is proving to be a double-edged sword, with a separate survey revealing that retailers are increasingly shifting their focus from High Streets to out-of-town sites and the internet.

Emma Simpson reports.