UK retail sales recovered rapidly in May, with the first loosening of the coronavirus lockdown measures.
According to figures from the British National Statistical Office, sales increased by 12 percent from a month earlier.
In April, when the severe lockdown was still in place, retail sales plummeted by more than 18 percent from March.
The recovery in buying appetite was more substantial than most economists surveyed by the Reuters news agency had expected. However, store sales were still 13 percent lower compared to a year ago.
The UK closed all non-essential stores in March to stem the spread of the coronavirus.
Garden centres were allowed to open again in May. The other stores were only allowed to welcome a limited number of customers again in mid-June.