Reuters reports that according to the report from Office for National Statistics (ONS), spending on British credit and debit cards in the week to May 6 was 106% of its February 2020 level, up from 99% a week earlier as consumers spent more on travel, eating out and other activities that are being freed up from coronavirus rules.

Other figures showed a net 7% of 34,940 firms surveyed by the ONS reported an increase in turnover in March compared with March 2020.

The proportion of the workforce on the government's job-protecting furlough scheme was 11% in the period between April 19 and May 2, down from a previous reading of 13%, the ONS said.