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mpc: 15 Consumption growth had edged up to 0.5% in Q3, according to the latest GDP release, broadly in line with the November Inflation Report. Indicators of household spending in Q4 had been mixed. There had been some encouraging signs: three-month on three-month growth in retail sales volumes had risen to 0.7% in October, according to official figures; the British Retail Consortium November survey had pointed to a year-on-year increase in retail sales values of almost 5%; and reports from the Bank's regional Agents had suggested a tentative recovery in consumption growth. In contrast, the November CBI Distributive Trades Survey had remained very weak, with the reported retailers' sales balance falling to its lowest in the survey's 22-year history. Private car sales were significantly lower than in 2004.