Is there anything good to say about the weather this August? On the face of it, grey skies, relentless rain and driving wind hardly have any redeeming features. But if we look on the bright side, there is a silver lining to the dark clouds.

Serious bouts of air pollution have been largely absent this summer. Anti-cyclones at this time of year may bring hot sunny weather, but they also often hold stagnant air that contains traffic fumes and cooks them into a concoction of toxic gases that stings the eyes and chokes the lungs. But the Atlantic depressions this summer have washed out, blown away and swamped most pollution. The rain also washed down pollen and gave hay-fever sufferers some relief, which might explain a drop in sales of hay-fever remedies. However, this has been balanced by a surge in remedies for coughs, cold and flu.

Britain’s trees have revelled in the second consecutive summer of wet weather after years of drought that crippled their growth, brought on premature leaf fall and so seriously weakened the trees that many succumbed to new diseases.

The days of hosepipe bans and drought restrictions almost feel like nostalgia. But heavy summer rain also recharges underground water supplies, ready for the next severe drought. Umbrellas, rainproofs, tumble dryers, mops and buckets all sell well when it pours with rain, but there are some other beneficiaries. Last year’s wet summer registered soaring sales of ready-made meals, tinned soup and meatballs as Britons found solace in stodgy winter food. And cinemas, nightclubs, bingo halls and gambling websites all reported brisk business.