The fortunes of German DIY and home improvement giant Praktiker mirrored those of many UK companies this spring as cold, wet weather sent a chill through sales. 

Planning rules that have just come into force in England risk draining the life from high streets. 

The British Retail Consortium has announced that it is to investigate retail taxation - as B&Q's boss highlights the disparity in taxes paid by bricks-and-mortar and online retailers. 

Home Hardware has been promoting quality customer service within its corporate membership by inviting all corporate stores to take part in two mystery shopper surveys, taking part over the busy Christmas period and earlier this year. 

Retail suffered its worst decline in more than a year during the first half of May, according to the latest Distributive Trades Survey from the CBI. 

Total sales at the Kingfisher retailer B&Q fell by 5.7% to £913m during the 13 weeks to May 4, 2013, with unseasonably cold temperatures blamed for lower footfall and depressed sales of outdoor products. 

New technology has transformed the way people pay for products on the high street and online, according to the BRC's Cost of Payment Collection Survey, which reported a 10% decrease in cash spending in the retail industry over 2012. 

EDRA and fediyma have put out the call for last minute attendees of the second Global DIY Summit, which will take place next week in Rome, Italy. 

Owner of London-based independent chain The Tool Shop Vin Vara will be donning the lycra as part of the Akzo Nobel team taking on the gruelling Deloitte Ride Across Britain (RAB) challenge in June. 

Like-for-likes dropped by 0.2% during the six months to the end of March at Topps Tiles, and although the group saw revenue increase by 0.9%, adjusted profit before tax fell by almost £1m. 

Marks & Spencer has won what is being seen as potentially a landmark legal case over the requirement to pay retail rent even when the premises are no longer occupied. 

Another insecticide has been found to be extremely dangerous for honeybees. 

Almost one million steam cleaners were sold in the last 12 months, according to the latest research from GfK, with an extra £12m worth of steam mops sold in the first quarter of 2013 alone. 

A garden centre boss who has already been jailed for drink-driving will now go on trial for conspiring to pervert the course of justice over the same offence. 

A garden centre acquired by the Cherry Lane chain just four months ago has been severely damaged in a major blaze. 

Staff with 10 or more years' experience with Bents Garden & Home have been celebrating the tenth anniversary of the company's exclusive 10+ Club. 

The number of shops in the UK will fall by 22% over the next five years, while online retail sales will almost double over the same period. 

Briwax owners, the Bollom family, head for retirement, selling company and brands to competitor Rustins Limited. 

The innovative design of Hozelock's new Flexi Spray watering accessory has won it the prestigious Product of the Year 2013 title at this week's Chelsea Flower Show. 

A DIY job going tragically wrong may be responsible for a fatal accident at a home in Nottinghamshire last weekend.