Car firms show off gadgets that can park at the push of a button January 8, 2014 CARS that can drive themselves have been a frequent sight at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show. The technology has even been used to ferry conference-goers around the Las Vegas venue on the Navia, an unmanned ten-seat shuttle similar to a milk float. But the first opportunity motorists will get to try out no-hands driving is [...]
Diageo joins Diddy for a shot at tequila market January 8, 2014 Back in 2007, the artist formerly known as Puff Daddy (then P Diddy, then just Diddy) used the lyrics of album track Through The Pain (She Told Me) to tell fans he’d been “hangin' on Patron all day” – name checking the premium tequila brand beloved by rappers from Jay-Z to Chamillionaire. Today he officially [...]
Eurozone retail sales rise to 12-year high in November January 8, 2014 Eurozone November retail sales have enjoyed their largest rise November 2009. Retail sales jumped by 1.4 per cent month-on-month in November. Analysts had expected a meagre increase of just 0.2 per cent. The rise is a stark contrast to the previous month's decline of 0.2 per cent. European economist at IHS Global Insight Howard Archer [...]
Mothercare profit warning sees shares dive January 8, 2014 Mother and baby products retailer Mothercare has warned that "difficult trading" conditions could push its annual profits well below current market expectations. Shares are down over 27 per cent, at 305p, on the news. The company has been particularly squeezed by competitive discounting over the Christmas season. Like-for-like sales at Mothercare stores fell by four [...]
What you need to know before the open – 08/01 January 8, 2014 European markets are set to open flat this morning, as US employment data and Fed Open Market Committee meeting minutes are due out later today. European opening may be reflective after rudderless rally yesterday – FTSE -2, DAX -14, CAC -4 — David Buik (@truemagic68) January 8, 2014 Strong US data yesterday gave [...]
Sainsbury’s sees “strong” Christmas sales January 8, 2014 Sainsbury's has proved expectations that it'd break its lengthy sales increase record wrong – just. The supermarket has announced like-for-like sales, excluding fuel, rose by 0.2 per cent in the third quarter, and said it saw "strong" sales in the run-up to Christmas. This marks Sainsbury's 36th quarter in a row of like-for-like growth. Chief [...]
White Company founder and top bosses awarded bumper bonus January 7, 2014 CHRISSIE Rucker, founder of the White Company, took home £4.5m last year after the home furnishings and fashion retailer reported a rise in sales and profits. Accounts filed this week at Companies House also show that £2.9m was set aside to pay out a long-term incentive scheme for the group’s top managers. The nightwear and [...]
Topps Tiles gets boost from UK housing market January 7, 2014 TILING specialist Topps Tiles posted upbeat figures yesterday in a further sign that a rising housing market is having a positive effect on spending. Topps Tiles, which has 328 stores across the country, said like-for-like sales jumped by 9.3 per cent in its first quarter to 28 December, boosting shares by 2.9 per cent yesterday. [...]
Physical retailers see no boon from seasonal card spending January 7, 2014 CARD spending in brick-and-mortar shops over the last year dropped, despite the onset of an early economy recovery. Data from credit and debit cards released by Visa Europe yesterday suggest that while spending at physical retail stores dropped by 1.9 per cent between December 2012 and last month, despite a 6.8 per cent bump in [...]
Deflation grips shops through Christmas sales January 7, 2014 SHOP prices dropped at the fastest pace for at least seven years this Christmas, as retailers struggled to capitalise on 2013’s increasing consumer confidence. According to the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Nielsen, shop prices slipped by 0.8 per cent during December, driven by a 2.3 per cent drop in non-food prices. Retailers have now [...]