UK retail sales grow as consumers shrug off Brexit worries March 21, 2019 British retail sales showed strong growth last month compared to a year before, in a sign that consumers remain unaffected by the Brexit impasse. The quantity of goods UK shoppers bought increased by 0.4 per cent in February compared to January, with strong growth in non-store retailing and fuel, figures released today by the Office [...]
Wildwood restaurant owner Tasty shares plunge as it warns further site closures on the way March 20, 2019 Shares in Wildwood restaurant owner Tasty plunged this morning as the company warned that it may be forced to make further closures this year after shuttering eight underperforming sites. The figures Shares plummeted more than 17 per cent as the restaurant group posted dismal full-year results for 2018, blaming challenges in the casual dining sector as [...]
Inflation edges up from two-year low as food and alcohol prices rise March 20, 2019 The UK inflation rate edged up from two-year lows last month as food and alcohol prices rose. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) 12-month rate was 1.9 per cent in February, up from 1.8 per cent in January, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Read more: UK inflation falls close to a two-year low Rising [...]
Wetherspoons profits take a hit as wage increases kick in March 15, 2019 Wetherspoons has posted a sharp drop in pre-tax profits in its half-year report as increased labour costs took their toll. Read more: Wetherspoons profits slow amid surge in labour costs The figures Revenues increased 7.1 per cent to £889.6m for the 26 weeks to 27 January. Like-for-like sales were up 6.3 per cent over the [...]
Sign of the times: Smart speakers in and crockery out of UK inflation goods basket March 11, 2019 Bluetooth speakers, flavoured tea and washing gel have been added to the “basket of goods” used to calculate inflation in the UK, while crockery sets and hi-fi systems have been shelved. Read more: Inflation drops to two-year low of 1.8 per cent The Office for National Statistics (ONS) outlined changes this morning to the list [...]
How to ride the pound sterling rollercoaster through a no-deal Brexit February 26, 2019 With no signs of letting up, the cold winds of Brexit uncertainty blowing through parliament have been pretty chilling for the UK economy. With Theresa May revealing on Sunday that MPs might not vote on her new deal until 12 March, and rumours swirling that Brexit may be delayed until May or beyond, businesses are [...]
Chilango’s minibond offers 8 per cent interest – that’s tasty, but is the burrito bond right for you? February 19, 2019 Last October, the burrito chain Chilango made headlines when it launched a new bond aimed at retail investors that pays an eye-popping eight per cent interest per year for four years. Compared to most high street banks, which currently offer just one or two per cent on cash savings accounts (well below the rate of [...]
Options are running out for the man who destroyed Venezuela February 14, 2019 It takes some front for a man who has presided over a double-digit recession for three successive years to claim that his country is being destabilised by a “gang of extremists” rather than his own inept economic performance. But that is exactly what Venezuela’s embattled President Nicolas Maduro did this week, when he stated that the [...]
The Restaurant Group shares fall as chief executive Andy McCue prepares to step down February 14, 2019 The Restaurant Group (TRG) led the market fallers this morning after chief executive Andy McCue surprised the City by announcing plans to resign "due to extenuating personal circumstances". TRG's share price plunged almost 15 per cent in morning trading following a statement today from McCue, who is set to remain in his position until a new boss is [...]
How to make your pension last a lifetime February 11, 2019 New pension freedoms bring flexibility, but not necessarily peace of mind. Moira O’Neill discusses some amendments to this outdated retirement rule. It’s terrifying to think of running out of money in your later years but it would be devastating to go through retirement scrimping and saving when you could have had a better life. And [...]