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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Itsu blames inflation and Labour tax hikes as rising costs bite

September 9, 2026

Itsu has posted its third consecutive annual loss as the Asian food-to-to chain blamed surging inflation and Labour hikes to employment taxes for its rising costs. The edamame eatery, founded by the grab-and-go tycoon behind Pret a Manger, said the UK’s fast food industry is suffering from fragile consumer confidence and a rising tax burden. [...]
Victoria Beckham’s fashion empire warns on ‘uncertain’ future

September 9, 2026

Victoria Beckham’s luxury fashion empire has warned on its future, cautioning that the group will have to seek emergency funding if its lenders demand their money back. The former Spice Girl‘s up-market label returned a profit for the first time in the year to December but warned that the “material uncertainties” it faces could cast [...]
Gym Group upgrades outlook as Gen-Z shrugs off heatwave and World Cup

September 9, 2026

Gym Group has upgraded its outlook after tempting Gen-Zers into its gyms throughout the summer, despite the distractions of the World Cup and multiple heatwaves. Will Orr, chief executive of the no-frills gym provider, said the group is still on course to deliver three per cent sales growth despite a “noisy macro [environment], some hot [...]
Oil hits $100 a barrel as Iran war escalates

September 9, 2026

Oil prices hit $100 per barrel for the first time since July on Wednesday morning as new strikes in the Middle East sparked fresh concerns for global oil supplies. Brent crude – the international benchmark for oil prices – jumped more than two per cent, hitting $100 per barrel after making consistent gains from the [...]
As it happened: FTSE 100 dives as oil prices surge past $100 in blow to inflation

September 9, 2026

Welcome back to City AM’s FTSE 100 liveblog. The UK’s blue-chip index fell on Wednesday as oil prices reared up yet again, reaching six-week highs. Speaking late on Tuesday, Andrew Bailey caused fresh speculation that the Bank of England could hike interest rates when he said that risks to inflation remain “on the upside”. The [...]
Food inflation set to surge next year as Iran war ramps up supply costs

September 9, 2026

Food inflation could top six per cent next year as rising fuel prices triggered by the war in Iran ramp up supply chain costs, a top food industry body has warned. The Food and Drink Federation (FDF), which represents the UK’s food manufacturers, has urged the government to help the industry keep its costs down, [...]
Black market cigarette trade ‘accelerating high street decline’, Co-op tells Burnham

September 9, 2026

Criminal gangs selling illicit cigarettes in shops across the UK are “accelerating” the decline of Britain’s high streets and must be stopped, the Co-op has warned Andy Burnham. The black market trade of tobacco is undermining the Prime Minister’s push to rejuvenate UK high streets, eroding public safety and weakening community cohesion, the cigarettes-to-funerals seller [...]
‘Vertical drinking’ row rumbles on in Westminster

September 8, 2026

Sadiq Khan has hit out at the “breathtaking arrogance” of Westminster council, accusing the authority of ignoring public and industry opposition to its reported plans to crack down on so-called vertical drinking in the borough. The mayor of London has slammed the council for pushing ahead with its new licensing policy, which also imposes restrictions [...]
Dunelm shares crater as hot weather undermines growth plan

September 8, 2026

Shares in Dunelm plummeted after its new boss warned that record summer temperatures had posed an early hurdle to her plans to kick off growth at the furniture and homeware seller. Clo Moriarty, who joined the group from Sainsbury’s in October last year, said progress towards her new strategy has so far been delayed by [...]
As it happened: FTSE 100 waivers; oil nears $100 on new Hormuz sanctions

September 8, 2026

Welcome back to City AM’s FTSE 100 liveblog. The UK’s blue-chip index slipped on Tuesday morning, as investors weighed fresh tensions in the Middle East which boosted London’s oil majors but dragged on other members. Oil prices continued to march upwards. Brent crude – the international benchmark for oil prices – gained another 1.5 per [...]

Anthropic’s growth slows ahead of IPO as AI spending bill nears $900bn

Commonwealth Games generated £223m for Scotland

London Watch Week – The City Edition mega preview, featuring Christopher Ward, Nomos and more

By: Felix Armstrong

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