Retail sales hit highest since 2022 in surprise boost for economy October 24, 2025 Retail sales jumped to their highest level since 2022 in September, boosted by sunny weather that drove a surge in demand for clothing. Fresh figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed retail sales were 0.9 per cent higher than the previous three months. Sales volumes climbed 0.5 per cent in September, a significant boost from [...]
Consumer confidence remains downbeat amid Budget wariness October 24, 2025 A small lift in consumer confidence over October has failed to take a leading index into positive territory amid fears that the upcoming Budget could damage personal finances. Labour has made boosting living standards a central mission in government while Chancellor Rachel Reeves has recently talked up plans to lower the cost of living for [...]
Bodycare: Creditors to lose millions after retailer’s collapse October 21, 2025 Bodycare owed more than £30m when it collapsed into administration with the loss of around 1,400 jobs, it has been revealed. The high street health and beauty retailer fell over in September with an initial 32 stores closed and around 450 employees being made redundant. That move was followed a few days later when it [...]
Hotel Chocolat tastes sweet success of quitting London October 20, 2025 How Hotel Chocolat has performed since being acquired by Mars for more than £500m in July 2023 has been revealed for the first time. The Hertfordshire-headquartered business quit the London Stock Exchange after being taken over in a £534m deal. The deal, which at the time represented a 169.8 per cent premium on its 139p [...]
London shopping centre to be demolished for major development October 17, 2025 A huge redevelopment proposal for Lewisham shopping centre was given the green light last night, paving the way for hundreds of new homes to be built. Lewisham Council officials voted to approve plans to redevelop the 1970s complex, in a move that will see it turned into 1,700 new homes, 660 student beds and 445 [...]
Cautious Brits plan to cut spending ahead of Golden Quarter October 17, 2025 Nearly three quarters of Brits plan to cut spending for the rest of 2025 as consumers continue to prioritise saving over splashing out. While consumer sentiment has remained flat at -5 over summer, inflation worries have been rising and nearly nine in ten Brits now report concerns, according to the latest Consumer Sentiment Survey from [...]
eBay: UK profit surges after selling fees removed October 15, 2025 Profit at the UK arm of eBay has surged despite its decision to waive selling fees impacting its revenue during its latest financial year, it has been revealed. The division of the US giant has posted a pre-tax profit of £36.5m for 2024, up from the £2.7m it achieved in 2023. New accounts filed with [...]
FTSE 100 Live: Ofcom fines Royal Mail, CMA’s vet crackdown October 15, 2025 Good morning from the City AM liveblog team. 15 months on from Labour’s stunning general election victory and a month out from its next budget, how is the City feeling about the current government? It’s safe to say that enthusiasm has waned a little since high expectations were set last year. Some City analysts are [...]
Detached, ignorant, and selfish: City broker blasts the Treasury October 14, 2025 City broker Shore Capital has blasted the Treasury as incapable of creating economic growth, as Britain gears up for a tax-raising budget. Rumours of various taxes that Rachel Reeves might introduce in this Autumn’s budget in an attempt to plug a £40bn gap in the nation’s finances have been swirling, despite strong pushback from companies and consumers. [...]
Specsavers: Sales and profit rise as bumper pay day scrapped October 14, 2025 Specsavers has scrapped the bumper dividend it has been handing to its billionaire owners despite its sales and profit growing during its latest financial year. The chain has paid out £15m in each its last two financial years to founders Dame Mary Perkins and her husband Doug. Over that time, Specsavers’ turnover has increased from [...]