General Election 2019: Boris Johnson urges UK to ‘let healing begin’ December 13, 2019 This was a live blog, thank you for following along Read more: UK stocks and sterling surge as Tories triumph at pollsRead more: Election live: Who were the big MP casualties?Read more: UK housebuilders rejoice as shares rise after Tory win 04.30pm: Over and out! That’s it for today – we’re off to get some [...]
Retail job losses could number 15,000 as industry strains under cost pressures March 1, 2018 At least 15,000 retail sector jobs have either been slashed this year or are now at risk as household names sink into administration, according to calculations by City A.M. Toys R Us and Maplin went into administration yesterday, putting more than 5,500 jobs in doubt. The double-whammy for the industry comes after fashion chain East [...]
UK pump prices have hit a four-year high this Christmas December 24, 2017 Drivers are facing the highest pump prices since 2013 this Christmas. According to the AA, people travelling more than 200 miles to be with their families on Christmas Day will be forced to spend £5 more on petrol if they fill up on the motorway, as opposed to a supermarket. Petrol averaged 120.69p per litre [...]
Brits brace for Christmas travel trouble with “Frantic Friday” on the roads ahead of series of rail strikes and station closures December 22, 2017 Brits today face the busiest date for travelling on the nation’s roads, at the start of a festive period stacked with travel troubles including rail strikes and numerous station closures. The RAC has warned drivers against travelling today where possible with last-day commuters mixing with an expected 1.25m leisure trips. It has been dubbed “Frantic [...]
House of Fraser appeals for landlord support to cut rents January 6, 2018 UK department store House of Fraser has appealed to its landlords for “support”, asking them to reduce rents at some stores. First reported by Sky News last night and later confirmed by the high street stalwart, the news suggests House of Fraser may have had a rocky time during the pivotal Christmas trading period. House [...]
Christmas travel: RAC warns drivers to avoid travelling on “Frantic Friday” 22 December with Christmas getaway gridlock expected on the roads December 17, 2017 The RAC has warned that “Frantic Friday” is looming on 22 December, marking the day bumper traffic is expected due to last-day commuters travelling as drivers head home for Christmas. The day is predicted to see up to 1.25m leisure journeys on top of those leaving work, and the RAC has told motorists planning long [...]
Black Friday, inflation, and leisure spending threaten retailers in make or break week before Christmas December 18, 2017 Retailers are facing a make or break week in the run-up to Christmas, as City analysts warn that a last-minute dash may not be enough to rescue a disappointing December. Dismal footfall figures seen by City A.M. reveal that visits to high streets fell year-on-year by almost 11 per cent between Sunday and Friday last [...]
More restaurant chains could close stores after poor Christmas sales January 19, 2018 Christmas trading was disappointing at Britain’s restaurant and pub groups, with sales slightly down on 2016. Like-for-like sales declined 0.1 per cent against the previous year’s festive period, according to the Coffer Peach Business Tracker. Drinks-led businesses fared better than restaurants and gastro pubs, with drinks sales up 1.8 per cent across pubs while food [...]
John Lewis employee bonuses set to take a hit March 5, 2017 Employees of the John Lewis Partnership can expect their annual bonuses to shrink this year. Bonuses are unlikely to be higher than six or seven per cent of income when the company releases full-year results on Thursday, according to sources close to the situation. This is down from to a 10 per cent bonus last year. The [...]
Next expected to reveal first profits slip since financial crisis March 19, 2017 High Street retailer Next is expected to post the first fall in its annual profits since the financial crisis this week. The company is likely to announce that pre-tax profits fell to about £792m when Next releases its results for the year to January 2017 on Thursday. This number could range between £785m and £799m [...]