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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Amazon pledges 30,000 jobs for Neets ahead of Budget

October 21, 2026

Amazon has pledged to create 30,000 entry-level roles for young people by the end of the decade, in the latest sign of firms rowing in behind the government’s effort to tackle the youth unemployment crisis. The tech and retail giant has announced its “Youth Promise” programme amid growing concerns about youth joblessness and the number [...]
Iceland eyes Poundland stores as buyers circle budget retailer

October 20, 2026

Iceland is interested in buying a limited number of Poundland stores in the event the troubled retailer’s owners cannot find a single buyer, City AM can reveal. The discount supermarket will be on the lookout for a small number of shops if Poundland’s 600-store estate ends up being split apart, sources said. Iceland, which specialises [...]
Greene King boss: Pub industry ‘reaching breaking point’

October 20, 2026

The finance boss of Greene King has warned that soaring taxes and employment costs have pushed the UK’s hospitality industry to “breaking point”. Jonathan Fearn, finance chief of the privately-owned pub chain, said decisions taken by the Labour government have “created a cocktail of costs, which have made it ever harder for a pub to [...]
Mike Ashley’s Frasers loosens grip on Burberry

October 20, 2026

Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group has loosened its grip on Burberry, despite ramping up its pursuit of high-fashion names. The retail giant, which owns Sports Direct and Flannels, had built up a position in Burberry over recent weeks but has now faltered in its pursuit of the group. Frasers Group had increased its position in Burberry [...]
Sainsbury’s hopes to regain narrative after Morrisons merger bombshell

October 20, 2026

Sainsbury’s is set to update the market on its latest numbers this week. But the City has one thing in mind: merger talks with Morrisons, writes Felix Armstrong As Sainsbury’s boss Simon Roberts gears up to face the market later this week, business hacks will be getting used to the usual riposte: no comment. The [...]
West End boss urges Healey to curb ‘eye-watering’ business rates

October 20, 2026

The West End’s top business chief has urged John Healey to avoid adding to high street firms’ “eye-watering” business rates bills. Writing in City AM, New West End Company chief executive Dee Corsi said the Chancellor must listen to retailers and hospitality businesses who say they “cannot absorb” any more tax hikes. The industry body, [...]
City of London urged against business rates hikes to cover £70m shortfall

October 19, 2026

The City of London Corporation has been warned that hiking business rates to cover its £70m budget shortfall would undermine the Square Mile’s global “competitiveness”. The local authority is weighing up whether to increase the business rates multiplier it charges businesses in the Square Mile, but a member of its finance committee has warned that [...]
B&M joins battle to ‘cherry pick’ Poundland stores in sale

October 19, 2026

Discount retailer B&M has joined the tussle to pick off select Poundland stores as its Boston-based owner Gordon Brothers eyes a rushed sale of the company. London-listed B&M European Value Retail is interested in acquiring a small number of Poundland stores, should the retailer be broken up if a buyer for the whole company is [...]
Surging mortgage rates ‘biting harder’ on fragile housing market

October 19, 2026

Rising mortgage rates are starting to “bite harder” on the UK’s fragile housing market by forcing sellers to push down asking prices. The average two-year fixed mortgage rate has risen to 5.55 per cent, up from 5.29 per cent last month and 4.25 per cent since before the war in Iran, according to homes portal [...]
Burnham cracks down on headphone dodgers with £100 fines

October 19, 2026

Brits playing music out loud on a bus could be slapped with a £100 fine as part of Andy Burnham’s new crackdown on antisocial behaviour. Bus and train passengers will be asked to “share the carriage, not the noise” as part of new powers being handed to local authorities to clamp down on “the actions [...]

Bayern Munich valued at £3.1bn as German energy giant buys stake in Harry Kane’s club

Bayern Munich valued at £3.1bn as German energy giant buys stake in Harry Kane’s club

Prima Facie film review: Cynthia Erivo’s harrowing tear-jerker

By: Felix Armstrong

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