UK’s best bank revealed – and it’s not a bank April 9, 2026 The UK banking sector’s top bank has been crowned – and (spoiler) it’s not a bank. A new report from Forbes and market research firm Statista analysed the global banking system for the world’s top names in the sector. Over 54,000 people were surveyed across 34 countries in 17 different languages between October and November [...]
Non-dom reforms blamed for collapse of Harrods luxury property arm April 9, 2026 The collapse of department store Harrods’ luxury property arm was due in large part to the government’s abolition of the non-dom tax regime, estate agents have said. Harrods Estates, which opened on the shop floor in 1897, has announced the closure of its only remaining office in Knightsbridge. London estate agents said the collapse of [...]
John Lewis boss takes 20 per cent pay rise as retailer cuts jobs April 9, 2026 The new chairman of John Lewis took a pay rise and bonus despite the retailer cutting thousands of jobs. Jason Tarry saw his basic pay rate increase by 21 per cent and took a two per cent bonus, despite his firm slashing more than 3,000 jobs last year. Tarry took the reins of the John [...]
Stagflation to batter UK economy as growth grinds to halt April 7, 2026 The UK economy is set to suffer from stagflation over the coming months as growth across the services sector ground to a halt in March, researchers have indicated. The war in the Middle East has brought output growth to its slowest level since last April while input price inflation hit its highest level since the [...]
Private credit firm exposed after cosmetics retailer plunges into administration April 7, 2026 A private credit firm has been forced to write down the value of one of its portfolio companies after online retailer Give Me Cosmetics was placed into administration. London-based Beechbrook capital, which offers finance to lower mid-market British businesses, had lent around £6.5m to fund the acquisition of Give Me Cosmetics in April 2024, in [...]
‘Unprecedented’ – Food inflation to soar to 9 per cent by end of year April 1, 2026 Food inflation will soar from three to nine per cent by the end of this year due to the “unprecedented” energy and supply chain shocks caused by the Iran war, a leading association has warned. The rate of food price growth is currently at 3.3 per cent but will climb to nine per cent by [...]
Britain is still paying a heavy price for Covid lockdowns March 31, 2026 Six years on from the first lockdown, Britain hasn’t returned to its pre-Covid path – instead becoming a high-tax, low-growth less free nation, says Alex Pugh A little over six years ago, 27m people watched UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson tell them to “stay home” to tackle the spread of coronavirus. Johnson said you should [...]
Shop prices creep up as retailers brace for Iran war supply chain disruption March 31, 2026 Shop price inflation edged up in March as cost rises related to the Iran war began to take effect. The cost of shop items increased by 1.2 per cent year on year in March, up from 1.1 per cent in February, according to data compiled by NIQ for the British Retail Consortium (BRC). The BRC [...]
Asda boss says ‘plenty to do’ in turnaround after sales drop March 27, 2026 The boss of Asda has said he has “plenty to do” to complete his turnaround of the firm after sales and earnings slumped. The supermarket giant, the UK’s third largest, took £21bn of sales excluding fuel in 2025, down by 3.3 per cent, while adjusted earnings tumbled by a third to £764m. Asda’s executive chair [...]
Retail sales fall as Brits cut back on supermarket spending March 27, 2026 Retail sales fell in February, as low spending in food and household goods stores could not offset the strong performance of online sellers. The quantity of goods bought in February fell by 0.4 per cent, down from the surprise two per cent rise in January, which was revised up from 1.8 per cent, according to [...]