Consumer confidence dips in July ahead of possible autumn tax rises July 25, 2025 Brits’ confidence ticked down in July despite sunny weather, with caution building ahead of possible tax rises in the government’s autumn Budget. Sentiment dipped by one point to -19 in July, according to GfK’s Consumer Confidence Index. The measure for the general economic situation of the country during the last 12 months fell one point [...]
Here’s what private equity and venture capital need from Rachel Reeves July 25, 2025 Changes to carried interest, non-doms and wealth tax rumours are putting investors under pressure. Time for Rachel Reeves to adopt a more pragmatic, pro-growth approach, says Michael Moore In her October Party Conference speech, the Chancellor Rachel Reeves declared that ‘If growth is the challenge, investment is the solution’. She is right. The Chancellor has [...]
CVS halts acquisitions in the UK amid competition watchdog probe July 24, 2025 CVS has halted UK acquisitions and focused on Australian expansion due to a probe by the UK’s competition watchdog into the pet sector. The vet group has also delayed its full-year results until October to allow shareholders to “have more visibility” and details of the Provisional Decision of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which [...]
Swatch moves London headquarters to new Canary Wharf office space July 24, 2025 Swatch has signed a five-year lease for 9,500 sq ft of office space in a multi-purpose office building in Canary Wharf. The watches and jewellery manufacturer will move its London headquarters from Dockside Road to Docklands site Sierra Quebec Bravo (SQB). Swatch did not respond to a request for comment and did not disclose the [...]
Savills cuts estimate for house price growth over next two years July 24, 2025 Savills has cut its estimate for house price growth over the next two years as caution stalls the housing market, but expects looser mortgage rules to boost in the market in the medium term. The real estate giant cut its forecast for house price growth in 2025 from four per cent to one per cent, [...]
Dragons’ Den athlete sentenced for using Covid loans to buy £1m house July 23, 2025 A British world champion sprinter who appeared on Dragons’ Den has been given a suspended prison sentenced after using Covid loans to help fund a £1.3m house purchase. Rick Beardsell, who competed on the senior Masters circuit, obtained two maximum-value £50,000 Bounce Back Loans for his sportswear manufacturing business Sports Creative Limited in 2020 and [...]
Demand for strawberries and cider help grocery sales surge July 23, 2025 Sales at UK supermarkets surged in June as shoppers splashed out on summer staples like strawberries and cider. Total till sales growth at the grocers soared 5.8 per cent in the four weeks ending July 12, up from 3.8 per cent growth in June, according to new data released today by NielsenIQ (NIQ). “With three [...]
HPE: Hewlett-Packard Enterprise’s UK profit quadruples despite sales slump July 23, 2025 Profit at the UK arm of Hewlett-Packard Enterprise (HPE) almost quadrupled during its latest financial year despite its sales being slashed by nearly £150m. The division of the US tech giant has posted a pre-tax profit of £97.6m for the 12 months to 31 October, 2024, according to new accounts filed with Companies House. The [...]
UK sanctions 25 targets in illegal migration crackdown July 23, 2025 The UK government has banned 25 people smugglers, fraudsters, and bankers in the first set of sanctions aimed at curbing illegal migration, putting pressure on countries across Europe and the Middle East to follow suit. The Foreign Office has disclosed the names of 24 individuals and one company it has accused of facilitating people-smuggling and [...]
JD Wetherspoons: Sales overtake pre-pandemic levels July 23, 2025 Sales at JD Wetherspoon have overtaken pre-pandemic levels for the first time after a sluggish five years for the hospitality industry. Revenues at its 794 pubs have grown 5.1 per cent in the year to date, the company told markets this morning, putting growth at the chain above the industry average. “Sales volumes, which were [...]