LONDON, Sept 25 (Reuters) - British retail sales grew this month at a slightly slower pace compared with August, according to a survey on Thursday that showed retailers' optimism for sales in the coming month waned.
The Confederation of British Industry's distributive trades survey's retail sales balance fell to +31 in September, roughly in line with a Reuters poll forecast for +30, from August's six-month high of +37.
Sales expectations for October fell to +26, a three-month low.
"Solid growth continues on the high street, with most sectors doing decent business and department stores performing particularly well," said Rain Newton-Smith, director of economics at the CBI.
"However, the pace of growth in the grocery sector tailed off significantly compared with the previous survey."
(Reporting by Andy Bruce; Editing by David Milliken)