According to the Britch Retail Consortium KPMG Retail Sales Monitor, UK retail sales values rose 1.3% on a like-for-like basis from May 2011, when they were down 2.1% on a year ago. On a total basis, sales were up 3.4%, against a 0.3% decline in May 2011.

Miserable weather at the start of the month turned to glorious sunshine which boosted sales to turn around what could have been a dismal May.

Online (including mail-order and phone) sales of non-food items showed strong growth, up 12.4% against growth of 10.4% last year. Sales growth returned to levels more consistent with the 12-month average.

Stephen Robertson, Director General, British Retail Consortium, said: "As the relentlessly difficult underlying conditions continue to make trading tough for retailers, any temporary boost is of even greater importance and retailers had plenty of reason to celebrate the eventual arrival of summer at the end of May. Much of the month's positive performance can be attributed to spending in the final week when consumers responded enthusiastically to the sun coming out.

"It's likely the prolonged wet period helped create pent-up demand and people also felt more relaxed about their spending as the sun created a feelgood boost... Garden centres enjoyed a boom in the number of people investing in new lawnmowers to tackle overgrown grass.

"Retailers will be hoping the boost continues, sustained by this summer's celebrations and sporting events."

Helen Dickinson, Head of Retail, KPMG, said: "Retailers are hoping that the Jubilee celebrations will have helped to pull out them of the mire, but a short-term patriotic spending spree will not overcome the underlying difficulties facing the industry - which remains under pressure from a combination of declining consumer confidence and squeezed incomes.

"After a dismal April, May was a much better month and many retailers will be breathing a small sigh of relief. Businesses in the home-related sectors, where good weather runs counter to strong performance, found the going much tougher. Those not selling big-ticket home-related items are hoping the sun stays out all summer long."