By: Felix Armstrong

Retail Reporter Felix Armstrong is City AM's retail reporter, covering retail, hospitality and property news. He has previously written for The Times, The Guardian, The Telegraph and The i Paper. Email Felix at Felix.Armstrong@cityam.com

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John Lewis boss: UK economy facing a ‘permacrisis’

September 3, 2026

The boss of John Lewis has warned that the UK economy is locked in a “permacrisis” as he urged the government not to hike business rates on large retailers. Peter Ruis, the outgoing managing director of the retail giant, said that British businesses are facing a “permacrisis externally [which] isn’t going to go away”. Last [...]
Crest Nicholson slashes housebuilding targets in ‘difficult’ summer

September 3, 2026

Crest Nicholson has cut back its housebuilding and earnings targets as crunch talks with lenders drag on. The London-listed builder now expects to build up to 1,400 homes this year, compared to earlier forecasts of as many as 1,500. It expects to make an earnings loss of £10m, having previously guided to a profit of [...]
Holiday Inn owner IHG urges Burnham to drop tourist tax

September 3, 2026

The UK boss of Holiday Inn-owner IHG has urged Andy Burnham to drop plans for a tourist tax, which they said will deter tourists and investors from the country’s hospitality sector. Neetu Mistry, the hotel group’s UK and Ireland managing director, told City AM that she has directly warned the government against the policy, which [...]
Retailers urge Healey to unwind national insurance hike to boost jobs

September 3, 2026

Retailers have called on Chancellor John Healey to unwind some of the national insurance reforms made by his predecessor in a bid to tackle the youth joblessness crisis. The British Retail Consortium (BRC), which represents retailers including Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Marks & Spencer, has written to the Chancellor, urging him to unwind “soaring employment costs”. [...]
Tesco, B&Q and Whitbread scolded in minimum wage crackdown

September 3, 2026

Labour’s new workers’ rights police force has scolded Tesco, B&Q and Whitbread, and more than 600 other firms, for failing to pay the minimum wage. The Fair Work Agency has published the names of 658 companies which have been fined £7m and forced to return £4m to more than 27,000 workers who have not been [...]
The Works secures heavyweight backing in activist investor row

September 2, 2026

The Works has secured the backing of a pair of heavyweight shareholder proxies in the discount retailer’s boardroom tussle with an influential activist investor. The stationary and crafts retailer has been locked in a row with Kelso, a London-listed investment firm, since the investor sought to force a director onto its board. Institutional Shareholder Services [...]
Poundland owners rush to sell discount retailer before Christmas

September 2, 2026

The owners of Poundland are racing to find a buyer for the discount retailer ahead of the all-important Christmas trading period, having already received interest from suitors. Gordon Brothers, who bought Poundland only a year ago, have appointed advisors Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) to sound out interest in the company after several parties approached the [...]
Ryanair warns soaring jet fuel prices could topple rival airlines

September 2, 2026

Ryanair has warned that the price of jet fuel could soar next summer, threatening some of its European competitors with collapse. The budget airline said it has taken emergency measures to protect itself from the higher jet fuel prices caused by the Iran war, trimming its passenger targets from 216m to 214m for this year. [...]
Gen-Z toymaker Jellycat pursues Home Bargains in latest copyright claim

September 2, 2026

Jellycat has filed for a copyright claim against discount retailer Home Bargains, as the toymaker continues its tirade against retailers it claims are copying its trademark stuffed dolls. The British toymaker filed a copyright claim to the Patents Court against TJ Morris, the parent company of Home Bargains, as seen by City AM. Jellycat surged [...]
‘Misleading’ Frasers ad banned amid feud with watchdog

September 2, 2026

The advertising watchdog has censured Frasers Group for running a “misleading” ad just days after its finance chief ramped up a bitter row with the regulator. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has banned an online advert published by Sports Direct, which is owned by Frasers, for a Puma sports top which it said misled shoppers [...]

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By: Felix Armstrong

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