Halfords lifts profit targets on heatwave boost Retail The sun has shone on Halfords’ summer trading as the motoring and cycling retailer lifted its profit targets in response to “very strong” recent sales. The FTSE 250 firm had previously been tipped for a £52.6m pre-tax profit this year but said on Thursday that it now hopes to make between £55m and £65m. Shares in [...]
Fishing retailer catches sales boost to defy summer drought Retail The UK’s largest fishing shop has posted a surge in sales to defy fears that the record drought is impacting the country’s rivers and fisheries. Angling Direct, the UK’s leading seller of fishing equipment, said it has grown its market share and is on track to meet its profit targets despite the drought, which has [...]
Picky Brits: Heatwave fuels surge in finger food spending Retail Record summer temperatures have driven a surge in “picky bits” spending as British shoppers rush to the chilled aisle in a boost to UK supermarkets. The sweltering heat is causing Brits to cut back their grocery bills, instead spending little and often on items like olives and quiche, according to figures from Worldpanel by Numerator. [...]
Heatwave slows retail sales but World Cup boosts online shopping July 14, 2026 June’s scorching heat slowed retail sales, but Brits opted to shop from home instead, sending online sales soaring. Total retail sales in the UK slowed from 3.7 per cent in May to 1.9 per cent in June year on year, in line with this year’s average growth rate, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC). [...]
Grid operator issues fresh heatwave warning over power supplies July 9, 2026 The energy grid operator has warned that the “extreme temperatures” from this week’s heatwave could hit power supplies on Thursday night, as households’ use of fans and air conditioner place a record strain on our electricity system. The National Energy System Operator (Neso) issued a rare overnight notice calling on energy companies to generate additional [...]