(Bloomberg) -- UK retail sales slowed at the start of the year as consumers tightened their purse strings in another sign of tepid economic demand.

Total sales increased 1.2% in January, compared with a three-month average of 1.9%, the British Retail Consortium and consultancy KPMG said Tuesday. The figures are not adjusted for inflation, which was 4% at the end of last year.

“Easing inflation and weak consumer demand led retail sales growth to slow,” said Helen Dickinson, chief executive officer of the BRC. “While the January sales helped to boost spending in the first two weeks, this did not sustain throughout the month.”

Sales of big-ticket items such as furniture and household and electrical appliances remained poor, Dickinson added.

Read More: UK Retail Sales Drop, Raising Odds of Mild Recession in 2023

Food sales were more positive, however. With Brits staying at home during two winter storms, grocery volumes saw their “largest year-on-year growth in over 12 months,” according to Sarah Bradbury, CEO at research group IGD. 

A separate report from Barclays, also released Tuesday, showed spending growth at supermarkets rising by 5.2% — up from 2.8% in December — as many consumers cooked meals at home instead of going out. Overall, Barclays said spending on UK credit and debit cards rose just 3.1%.

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