LONDON (AFX) - Growth in UK retail sales volumes improved in December, but was below expectations, according to the Confederation of British Industry. In its latest distributive trades survey, the CBI reported that the net balance of retailers reporting increased sales volumes was 16 pct in December from 13 pct in November. The balance for December 1999 was 41 pct. The CBI said the rate of growth was the strongest since August, but was below expectations. Alastair Eperon, chairman of the CBI's distributive trades survey panel, said, "This survey signals a return to steady retail sales growth, although well below the levels of a year ago." "Retailers reported that sales improved in December, but fell short of a pre-Christmas bonanza and their growth expectations for January are only moderate," Eperson added. Results of the distributive trades survey are shown below. Figures are expressed in percentage points and show the balance of positive responses net of negative ones.