Jobs apocalypse: Britain’s biggest firms cut more than 130,000 roles in two years Economics Britain’s biggest businesses have axed more than 130,000 jobs over the past two years, a City AM analysis has found, laying bare the scale of pressure facing firms amid surging employment costs and the growing tide of automation. The analysis compiled more than 250 separate media reports of layoffs, job cuts and company administrations at [...]
Poundland owners push retailer towards insolvency Retail Poundland’s owners are resisting a takeover bid from an Irish property firm and instead pushing the discount retailer close to collapse. The leading bidder to take over the struggling discount retailer, Martin Property Group (MPG), has failed to win the favour of Poundland’s owners because it has not offered to pay for a loan up [...]
Healey warned ‘the dam is breaking’ on shop price inflation Retail The Chancellor has been warned that the “dam is starting to break” on surging shop price inflation, which retailers had kept at bay with heavy discounting. Shop prices rose by 2.1 per cent in the year to October, according to new data from the British Retail Consortium, ahead of September’s 1.4 per cent and the [...]
‘You can walk in the road!’: Inside Oxford Street’s first day without traffic October 26, 2026 As the first phase of the mayor's Oxford Street pedestrianisation project began, Anna Moloney rushed to Selfridges to soak up the scene.
Sadiq Khan urges banks to stay in London as tax raid looms October 26, 2026 Sadiq Khan has urged London’s biggest banks to keep investing in the UK, days away from an expected tax raid on the sector. On Monday, the Mayor of London said the City’s banking sector is “really important” but refused to say whether he opposed the tax raid, adding that “those with broader shoulders carry the [...]
Oxford Street pedestrianisation is a win for London October 26, 2026 The pedestrianisation of Oxford Street will create a new a public realm where it is anticipated that people will enjoy the new space, stay longer and spend more, says Andrew Busby The pedestrianisation of Oxford Street is the most radical project to hit the West End in decades. Almost a kilometre of the nation’s high [...]
Oxford Street goes traffic-free as Sadiq Khan launches pedestrianisation October 26, 2026 Oxford Street has become permanently traffic-free for the first time as London mayor Sadiq Khan presses ahead with a major overhaul of the capital’s busiest shopping district ahead of Christmas. Almost a kilometre of the famous shopping street, between Orchard Street near Selfridges and Great Portland Street, has closed to vehicles from Monday, ending decades [...]
Supermarkets blindsided by ‘shambolic’ stockpiling warning October 23, 2026 Supermarkets have been caught off guard by the government’s “shambolic” campaign to urge Brits to stock up on supplies of food and water, industry sources told City AM. Retailers were not told the details of the government’s “Be Ready” campaign until days before it was announced and expected it to be a more “low key” [...]
Boohoo eyes £100m profit as online seller revives fortunes October 23, 2026 Fast fashion firm Boohoo has set its sights on a £100m profit after emerging from years of consecutive losses. The London-listed firm, which owns Debenhams, Karen Millen and Pretty Little Thing, said its turnaround plans are “significantly ahead” of schedule after producing its first pre-tax profit since 2021. Boohoo has endured a rocky few years, [...]
Retail sales fall faster than expected ahead of Budget October 23, 2026 Retail sales fell at a faster pace than expected in September, new figures have shown, as consumer confidence suffered a major drop ahead of the Budget. Total sales at retailers fell 0.4 per cent in September, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), a bigger drop than the 0.1 per cent forecast by City [...]