LONDON, Feb. 15 (Xinhua) -- British retail sales bounced back in January 2019, reaching the highest since December 2016, according to data released Friday by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Figures showed that the quantity bought in all retailing in January rose by 4.2 percent, compared with the same period one year earlier, hitting the highest since December 2016.

In the three months to January 2019, the quantity bought increased by 0.7 percent, compared with the previous three months.

On the monthly basis, the growth rate in the quantity bought increased by 1.0 percent in January.

Meanwhile, the quantity bought in textile, clothing and footwear stores showed a strong year-on-year growth at 5.5 percent.

ONS statistician Rhian Murphy said "clothing stores saw strong sales, luring consumers with price reductions, with food sales also growing after a slight dip after Christmas."