Last month saw the UK's retail sales grow by 1.9 per cent on a like-for-like basis from January 2012, figures released by the latest British Retail Consortium (BRC) and KPMG Retail Sales Monitor have revealed.
Despite the adverse weather conditions and the struggles faced by some of the most popular high street brands, it seems that stores still benefitted as consumers were tempted outside by the lure of sales and cut-price goods.
The figures equate to the highest like-for-like sales growth for 13 months, while the total sales growth compared to January 2012 was up by three per cent - the highest since September last year.
"After a fairly subdued December, these results are sure to lift spirits for many," said Helen Dickinson, director general of the BRC.
"People were tempted out by offers and promotions but also treated themselves to full-price and premium products early in January, particularly must-have technology items.
"These factors, coupled with recovering consumer confidence, have added up to a more successful January than we saw last year."
With the high streets benefitting from increased activity, demand for retail space could soon begin to rise if the trend continues in the coming months.
Whether it's prime or secondary commercial properties, investment in such assets can be a profitable venture if the market confidence exists - and it seems that this is starting to return.
David McCorquodale, head of retail at KPMG, added that seasonal campaigns continue to be a leading factor in helping retailers secure profits if they are able to target consumers effectively.
Indeed, with January traditionally considered to be a challenging month, the growth figures indicate that there is cause for cautious optimism in spite of the big name brands that have been experiencing difficulties.
And if demand for commercial properties does increase, investors hoping to let such assets could start to see greater returns as the market picks up in the coming months.