According to the latest figures from GfK, 5% fewer litres of emulsion paint have been sold in the UK during the first part of 2012 compared with the same period last year, but 6% more UK pounds have been spent on it. 

It's been estimated that Brits are going to spend more than £820million on celebrating the Diamond Jubilee - and according to Cuprinol, 37% will be directing their cash towards sprucing up their garden. 

The home improvement retailer has claimed its new app is the first of its kind within the sector, incorporating three different stages to guide users through a home DIY project. 

Furniture and carpet retailers saw a particularly strong sales increase during the month, with 72% more reporting growth than those reporting decline, according to the latest Distributive Trades Survey from the CBI. 

The tiling group, which owns 299 Topps Tiles stores and 20 Tile Clearing Houses, saw like-for-like revenue for the 26 weeks ending March 31, 2012 drop by 4.7% to £86.6m, which bosses said was "in line with expectations." 

New Mica members Eric and Margaret Moore have opened a brand new DIY store in the town of Aghagallon, County Armagh. 

The Kingfisher-owned retailer has announced three new major product range changes launching across its 359 stores, including a £19m capital expenditure investment in new tiling and flooring shops. 

A special one-day workshop aimed at showing exhibitors at this year's Glee how to optimise their show visibility will take place on June 14. 

The latest range of Yale cylinder and multipoint locks will be distributed by Eurocell thanks to a new partnership between the pair. 

The same number of people who will be celebrating the Jubilee weekend will opt for a spot of DIY or gardening over the long bank holiday, according to a new survey by TNS. 

Discount retail giant Poundworld is launching a new wholesale website this week, selling a variety of cheap products including DIY tools, home improvement accessories and garden products to retailers. 

Orders at the group's Gardening Direct and Growing and Live Despatch (GLD) businesses have fallen to £3.8m for the three months up to March 31 2012, compared with £5.5m over the same period last year. 

Henkel brand Loctite, which has been around since 1953, will be using 2012 to relaunch with a £5m advertising campaign. 

The results are in for the latest Sitemorse survey of the top 500 retail websites in Q2, and following its bottom ranking last quarter, Screwfix will be pleased to see its position raised to 414. 

The Wolverhampton-based tiling chain has announced plans to expand its current range of 15 stores on the tail of a successful year of growth. 

DIY and garden giant Homebase bagged a Gold medal this year for its Teenage Cancer Trust garden designed by Joe Swift, while Westland's 80ft high Magical Odyssey was awarded a Silver-Gilt Flora and names Most Creative Show Garden of 2012. Meanwhile, Chelsea veteran Hillier achieved its 67th consecutive Gold medal for its very British themed Dual and the Crown exhibit.
 

Record rainfall during April and May means landscaping, turf and gardening businesses in the South and East of England are now exempt from the hosepipe ban for up to 28 days. 

New figures released by the Office for National Statistics show the sales volume for household goods retailers saw the biggest increase since January 2011, but retail overall suffered a 0.4% dip in April compared with the same time last year. 

The Old Railway Line Garden Centre in Powys, Wales, has recently installed a set of photovoltaic (PV) panels as part of its mass-redevelopment plan. 

UK Point of Sale is calling all independent retailers to make the most of the big events this summer through their window displays, promising an iPad to the best celebratory shop-front this July.