Next: Lord Wolfson warns Budget will make it ‘harder’ to enter workforce January 17, 2025 The boss of retail giant Next has warned that tax rises announced in the Budget will make it “harder and harder for people to enter the workforce”. Lord Wolfson told the BBC that the government’s move to hike national insurance (NI) would disproportionately hit entry-level jobs. “The axe has fallen particularly hard on those entry-level, [...]
Superdrug hails record Christmas as sales surge January 17, 2025 Superdrug has hailed its Christmas trading as its best ever after sales rose by more than five per cent in the final weeks of 2024. The high street retailer said it was boosted by one gift set being sold every second throughout December. Own Brand top sellers included the Studio London Ultimate Brush Collection, the [...]
Retail’s Christmas results don’t match up to the gloom in the market January 17, 2025 If you were to judge the health of the retail market solely from the last two weeks of festive trading results, you would think the market is in rude health. But that would be a significant departure from the actual sentiment in the market, which has taken on a sense of almost unrelenting gloom in [...]
FTSE 100 hits all-time high as investors bet on interest rate cuts January 17, 2025 The FTSE 100 has hit a new all-time high this morning, surpassing the previous peaks it reached in spring last year, as investors ramp up their bets on an interest rate cut by the Bank of England next month. The value of London’s 100 largest listed companies has grown 3.2 per cent in the last [...]
UK retail sales plunged in December as Budget fallout spread January 17, 2025 UK retail sales dropped during December, despite expectations of a Christmas bounce as consumers pulled back on spending. In a worrying sign for the economy, retail sales fell 0.3 per cent in December. Analysts had pencilled in growth of 0.4 per cent. November’s retail sales growth was also revised down by the Office for National [...]
Apple, Google, Meta and Microsoft: The £30bn legal headache for Big Tech January 16, 2025 Headlines have been popping about class actions in the UK with the main target on the other side, Big Tech firms. But why them?
Poundland owner Pepco vows to turn around discount retailer as sales fall January 16, 2025 The owner of Poundland has vowed to get the discount retailer back on track after its performance dragged on the wider Pepco Group. In the first quarter of its financial year, the final three months of 2024, Poundland’s sales totalled €563m (£474.5m), down 9.3 per cent year on year on a constant currency basis. That [...]
Dunelm sales tick up but shares drop January 16, 2025 Homewares retailer Dunelm has reported solid trading results which were ahead of the wider retail market for the golden quarter. Investors weren’t convinced, however, and its share price dropped nearly four per cent in early trades. Sales at the Leicester-headquartered business grew 1.6 per cent to £490m in the 13 weeks to December 28 in [...]
Topps Tiles investor stages revolt as shares nose dive January 15, 2025 A major investor in Topps Tiles has staged a revolt against the retailer as its share price continues to nose dive towards a new historic low. Private equity firm MS Galleon used its near 30 per cent stake to vote against the company’s remuneration report at this year’s annual general meeting, resulting in 40 per [...]
The Best January 2025 Sales Offers January 15, 2025 The renowned January sales are in full swing, tempting shoppers with incredible deals at every turn together with those looking for experiences at London’s iconic attractions. Immerse yourself in the magic of London and take advantage of the numerous deals on now. From designer boutiques to high-street favourites, the discounts are irresistible. While you’re indulging [...]