Sofa giant DFS suffers big slump in profits after ‘grim year’ amid sharp retail downturn September 15, 2022 DFS said this morning the sofa seller has suffered a big slump in profits. Moreover, the company warned that the industry is facing a downturn as soaring bills mean fewer customers are in the market for a new sofa. DFS said pre-tax profit dropped 43 per cent to £58.5m in the financial year that ended [...]
Publicans ‘in despair’ amid reports energy support will be delayed September 14, 2022 Pubs and restaurants are running out of time to stay afloat, industry chiefs have said, amid rumours of a delay to energy help for businesses. Government officials had warned business chiefs that a six-month support scheme may not be ready until November, according to a report in The Financial Times. Reports did suggest that officials [...]
UK house prices continue to soar in biggest annual jump since 2003 September 14, 2022 UK house prices grew 15.5 per cent to £292,000 in the year to July, according to official figures – the highest annual inflation rate since 2003. The average cost of a home in the UK has continued to spiral as demand outstrips supply. In just 12-months, property prices have grown £39,000 higher, several thousand pounds [...]
Desperate small businesses beg government for immediate help as bills spiral out of control September 14, 2022 A range of small businesses said this morning that their energy bills have more than doubled in the past three months alone. Firms are therefore eagerly looking to next week’s expected mini budget for help with soaring bills despite the slight easing in inflation. Lesley So, founder of Derby-based eco-friendly drinks manufacturer So Good Kombucha, [...]
Working out well: Third Space eyes suburban locations for expansion pipeline September 14, 2022 Luxury health club brand Third Space is eyeing more locations in suburban areas, as opposed to in office hotspots, its CEO has told City A.M. Third Space offers members “a combination of expertise and luxury” and caters to “fitness savvy enthusiasts” as opposed to “first timers”, with members who “like the finer things in life,” [...]
Premiership sees opening-round attendances fall to a six-season low September 13, 2022 Premiership rugby’s opening-round attendances have fallen to a five-season low. Since the start of the 2016-17 season, and not including the pandemic-affected 2020-21 season, the percentage of seats filled by punters in England’s top division during the first round has never been lower than last weekend. The opening round saw 59 per cent of seats [...]
Forget tech, hospitality or transport: These are Britain’s most profitable sectors September 13, 2022 At the beginning of this year, the UK counted around 5.6 million private sector businesses. Described as the backbone of the UK’s economy, SMEs account for 99.9 per cent of all businesses in Britain. With house prices currently at a record high, it’s no surprise that business and property services are amongst the sectors making the most profit in the [...]
Most UK homebuyers and owners are locking in mortgage rates as rises loom September 13, 2022 The majority of homebuyers and owners are locking in their mortgage rates to escape looming rate rises later this year, according to the latest data. Most new buyers – some 95.5 per cent – are taking out fixed rate mortgages, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) found, while the proportion of mortgaged homeowners fixing their rates [...]
Sainsbury’s injects £20m into boosting shop workers’ wages September 13, 2022 Sainsbury’s has said it will boost pay for its shop workers in London to £11.20 per hour, as well as offering employees free food amid the cost of living crisis. The supermarket said it was investing £25m into supporting its hourly paid workers, with some £20m being pumped into employees’ pay packets. Employees at Sainsbury’s [...]
UK joblessness falls to 1970s low, but pay continues to plummet September 13, 2022 UK joblessness has slid to its lowest level since 1974, but scorching inflation is still wiping out Brits’ pay, official figures published today reveal. The proportion of people out of work dropped to 3.6 per cent in the three months to July, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Despite the historic low unemployment [...]