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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Business
Mark Sweney

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

Great Britain Office for National Statistics Shopify
A person stands on a blue and white paddleboard, holding a paddle as water splashes around them
Paddleboard sales were up after a record hot May. Photograph: SolStock/Getty Images

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.

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