LONDON, Jan 6 - Retail sales growth gained momentum in December after a slow start for Christmas shopping in November, a key industry survey said on Tuesday. The Confederation of British Industry said retail sales for the first three weeks of December were sharply higher than in the same period in 2002 with an annual growth rate returning to that recorded in October, it said. Fifty-four percent of firms reported sales were up in December, while 21 percent said they were down. The balance of +33 percent was much higher that a balance of +19 reported for November and well up on the -3 percent in December 2002.
"Following a slow start to Christmas trading, many retailers saw sales gather momentum as the big day drew closer, reflecting the changing patterns of Christmas shopping of recent years," said Ian McCafferty, CBI chief economic adviser.//