Shoppers splash out on fans and paddling pools as retail sales in Great Britain hot up

May heatwave drives up volume of sales 1.2%, the strongest monthly growth since January, says ONS

Retail sales bounced back to growth in May as record hot weather spurred sales of fans and paddling pools, while online purchases also soared.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the volume of retail sales in Great Britain grew 1.2% in May compared with the previous month, the strongest monthly rate of growth since January.