Ultimate Products has become the first housewares supplier to sign up for the Rainy Day Trust's new Partner package. 

CBI quarterly Distributive Trades Survey reveals 41% of retailers saw sales volumes rise in two weeks to May 16, although durable household goods and furniture saw declines. 

The warmer weather has had a positive effect on many DIY and garden categories, according to the latest research from analysts GfK Retail & Technology. 

£50m retail site in East Kilbride will feature Tesco supermarket and state-of-the-art Dobbies garden centre. 

Administrator Ernst & Young issues list of 55 stores bought by B&M Homestore, Wickes and B&Q. 

Administrators Ernst & Young are expected to announce today the planned closure of some 120 unsold Focus stores, putting about 3,000 jobs at risk. 

More shoppers are planning to grow their own fruit and vegetables in the coming year, according to IGD ShopperTrack research published this week. 

All Focus stock is to be liquidated and the remaining stores closed. A closing down sale started this morning. 

Average family £13 a week worse off, as spending power drops 7.1% and prices increase twice as fast as incomes. 

The likes of B&Q, Homebase, Hillier, Westland, Bulldog, Scotts and Bosch all had a presence at the famous flower show this year, with plenty of medals to be had. 

Anglia Regional Co-operative Society has sold its chain of Westgate department stores to Beales. 

Grosvenor Garden Centre in Chester has broken its own fundraising record by collecting a total of £8,000 in the past 12 months. 

Department store chain posts 0.1% sales increase for week ended May 14 and describes market as "challenging". 

Retail chain known as B&M Bargains has agreed to take on the leases of 11 Focus stores and their employees. 

All sectors report positive year-on-year growth except household goods, with declines in both volume and value terms. 

Michael Dandy, former md of builders merchants chain Gibbs & Dandy, died last month aged 56. 

Redevelopment of Percy Thrower's Gardening Centre will see the addition of a Waitrose store on site. 

B&Q is launching nine new 'You Can Do It Centres' this weekend, following the success of the first six. 

While confidence is still hovering slightly above recession levels, a modest two point decline in April suggests some stability. 

Findings reveal that men are no longer held responsible for tackling household DIY jobs, while picking up a paintbrush is seen by many as the easiest DIY task.