B&Q (owned by Kingfisher) shares jumped up 7% after results that sales have increased due to increased demand for home improvments and outdoor goods, which put a smile on investors.

Sales from the first quarter showed uk sales rose to £58m compared to £29m the year before.  The overall profits including firm Screwfix are up 89% to £61m in the quarter.

Sales of their outdoor items have soared 30% as more people are spending money on their houses as they save money and staying in and enjoying home comforts.  Also bathroom and bedroom sales were up aswell.

Shares were trading 14.5p ahead on 198.3p.

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A recent survey shows that businesses are still declining in May despite optimism that the market was starting to pick up.

This shows that shoppers are still wary about spending money in this difficult times.  CBI which took the survey of many retailers said that 31% of retailers reported rising sales in May compared to last year May.  48% reported falling sales in May, giving a net balace of 17%.  Which gives a good balance of +3%, in April, which some analysts hoped had marked the beginning of a retail recovery.

The CBI has said the decline has slowed down compared to 40-50% negative balances seen in January, which is giving signs that the end of the recession is not to far away, possibly by the end of 2009.

A decline in consumer spending by money struggling shoppers fearing for their jobs drove the sharp fall in GDP, of 1.9%, in the first three months of 2009.