Consumer confidence rises in February but cost-of-living crisis ‘far from over’ February 21, 2025 Brits’ confidence rose in February, fueled by better personal finances and a brighter outlook on the general economy. However, confidence remained down on last year. GfK’s index measuring changes in personal finances during the last year rose three points to -7, seven points better than February 2024. The major purchase Index rose three points to [...]
Green shoots? UK retail sales beat expectations in January February 21, 2025 Brits returned to the shops in January as discount spending fueled the first monthly rise in retail sales volumes since last August. Retail sales volumes rose 1.7 per cent in January, following a fall of 0.6 per cent in December, according to the ONS. Analysts had expected growth of just 0.3 per cent. This was [...]
Standard Chartered shares hit ten-year high ahead of results February 20, 2025 Shares in Standard Chartered climbed to a ten-year high as the bank geared up to post its annual results on Friday. City analysts have pencilled in a full-year profit before tax of $6.2bn (£4.9bn), with the bank expected to pocket $983m (£780m) in the fourth quarter, down on the $1.1bn (£872m) posted in the fourth [...]
Rachel Reeves must act now to save pubs, City broker warns February 20, 2025 Peel Hunt has become the latest broker to issue a warning that British pub culture is at risk due to structural pressures and tax hikes. Hospitality was the biggest driver of economic growth in both November and December, according to the latest government figures. But tax rises in the October budget “halted and reversed a [...]
Arsenal cash in on Champions League return with record revenue February 19, 2025 Arsenal’s return to the Champions League and lucrative new sponsorship deals boosted the club’s revenue by 32 per cent to a record £616.6m last year. The £150m increase came from improved matchday, broadcast and commercial revenues and puts Arsenal behind only Manchester City and Manchester United for income in the Premier League. But £256m of [...]
UK government should be more like Trump, says top entrepreneur February 19, 2025 The government’s tax squeeze on businesses and ministers’ lack of private sector experience shows that the “political system is broken” in the UK, a top entrepreneur has claimed. Edward Lovett, founder of luxury online auction house The Collecting Group, launched a damning assessment of the business environment in Britain under Labour, telling City AM that [...]
Club L London almost triples in size as it targets international expansion February 18, 2025 Fashion retailer Club L London is targeting international expansion after almost tripling its sales and headcount over a two-year period. The Manchester-headquartered company achieved a turnover of £44.4m for the 14 months to 31 March, 2024, newly-filed accounts with Companies House have revealed. The latest sales figure comes after Club L London’s turnover stood at [...]
Ann Summers slips further into the red as sales dip February 18, 2025 Ann Summers slipped further into the red as it battled “significant external pressures” including the cost-of-living crisis, rising inflation and Google’s safe search restrictions. The retailer fell to a pre-tax loss of £13.1m for the year to 29 June, 2024, after it also made a loss of £3.8m in the prior 12 months. Newly-filed accounts [...]
Pound sterling rises to highest level this year as markets digest ‘mind-blowing’ tariff plans February 14, 2025 Sterling was trading at $1.26 on Friday afternoon, up 0.3 per cent on the day and its highest level so far in 2025.
Chopstix doubles its sales in four years as UK expansion continues February 14, 2025 Asian food eatery chain Chopstix more than doubled its sales over a four-year period ahead of being snapped up by a European giant, it has been revealed. The London-headquartered business has posted a turnover of £64.5m for the 12 months to 28 April, 2024, its final full year before being acquired. A 51 per cent [...]