This represents a sales figure £800 million more than the normal average weekly spend in the Easter month of £4.2 billion.

Easter chocolate sales will total some £440 million - 10 per cent of the year's chocolate sales.

"This year we're likely to spend £2.8 billion on food & drink in the week up to and including Easter Saturday," announced the consortium in a report.

"That would be £100 million more than last year. Because it is Easter, £486 million more will be spent on food & drink than in an average week."

An average of 80 million Easter eggs will be sold at a total value of £520 million. Approximately 10 million Easter cards will be sent at a total value of £21 million. "Traditionally gardening and homewares stores do well from the bank holiday weekend, but these figures show it can give a serious boost to sectors such as food and drink and confectionery too," said BRC director general, Kevin Hawkins.

"With relentlessly tough trading conditions and poor weather since the start of the year, retailers will be hoping that this Easter sees the beginning of a sustained pick-up in consumer confidence, but also some reasonable weather, so that people start spending again. For many retailers this could be some compensation for what has been a very disappointing few months."