Of course we are spending more because prices keep going up! What does the BoE expect when it has devalued Sterling?

Paul, Coventry,

It doesn't matter how "though" the times are, we still have to live and people don't care about inflation, they have learned to pay with plastic and there is nothing in the world that will make them stop. Rob, you are right, if we can't by a house we might as well spend the money.

Fabio C, London, UK

This increase in retail sales is all because of inflation, and we still need to eat the same amount and use the same amount of goods. It is one figure that the goverment cannot yet fiddle, and highlights that the real rate of inflation is much higher than the manipulated CPI figures.

George, London,

I suppose it makes sense, where are not moving (houses) so we spend money shopping instead.

Rob, Brum, UK

When something looks too good to be true, it generally is.

Richard, London,

I also find the figures amazing. However, I have noticed recently there appears to be a lot more people buying than just looking. May be it is all the bad news we are getting. Some people cheer themselves up by spending.

Better to keep something for a rainy day, or perhaps a thunder
storm

Barbara, Hereford,

Im all spent out now. The City can relax next month.

ronnie, bucks, uk

I find this really hard to believe, unless it's inflation causing the increase. People certainly aren't borrowing more and their pay isn't going up faster than inflation.

Dr Robert Laundon, London, UK

I dont know why people think that interest rates are high at the moment, they are not high enought. In 1978/9 I was receiving 12.5% interest from the ORDINARY National Savings Investment Account. It is those sort of interest rates which make people save money and not spend it.

Jim Allan, Wigan, Lancs

May 2008 had the benefit of five Fridays and Saturdays (April 08 only had 4 of each) whereas May 07 only had 4. Consumer expenditure has become much more skewed towards the weekend (and remember we are two days out of sink from last year due to the leap year) !! - so agreed - too good to be true

Richard, Sheffield, England

Simple really/ Lots of clothes shops had 'one day only' sales in busy centres with massive discounts. It's unusual to see sales in May.

Phil Green, Monte Carlo,

These figures have to be wrong and, as the old adage goes, you can't rely on one month's figures.

A.Williams, Cradley Heath,

Same stuff in the trolley as last year, but somehow seemed to spend 10% more. I think it's called inflation. Are we buying more or spending more for the same amount of goods, or even spending 8.1%more and getting fewer goods?

Ken, Derby, England

Can't speak for anybody else but I'm busy spending my small savings pot before Gordon Brown and inflation further erode it.

Ian Skelly, Hemel Hempstead,