May 14, 2019
UK unemployment fell to 3.8% in the first three months of the year, its lowest level since the end of 1974, official figures show. However the figures for the three months to March showed a slight slowdown in annual wage growth – excluding bonuses – to 3.3%, compared to 3.4% in the three months Read More…
May 9, 2019
Fashion chain Superdry has issued another profits warning, just weeks after founder Julian Dunkerton returned to the retailer. The company said full-year pre-tax profits would be lower than analysts’ expectations, partly due to weak wholesale and online sales. Full-year sales were flat, but were down 4.5% in the final three months. Mr Dunkerton’s return, Read More…
March 19, 2019
Sainsbury’s and Asda say their planned merger will save them £1.6bn and allow them to pass on £1bn in price cuts to savers. Sainsbury’s also says it will cap the amount of profit it makes on petrol. It says it will invite an independent body to check this promise in public. The supermarket giants Read More…
March 15, 2019
Profits at UK pub chain JD Wetherspoon fell 19% in the six months to the end of January. It blamed a rise in labour costs, interest payments, utility bills, repairs and depreciation for the fall. Its chairman, Brexit supporter Tim Martin, who generally accompanies results announcements with his colourful opinions, expressed concern that Brexit Read More…
March 12, 2019
Don’t be fooled by the Japanese characters emblazoned on its hoodies – Superdry was always a thoroughly British success story. From a small stall in Cheltenham market, it went on to become a truly global phenomenon and a commercial success. But 16 years after its founding, the firm started by James Holder and Julian Read More…
March 12, 2019
The UK economy grew by 0.2% in the three months to January, matching the growth of the previous three months. The report from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed a pick-up in activity in January when the economy expanded by 0.5%. The ONS said strength in IT, health services and wholesale trading offset Read More…
January 3, 2019
The value of the gaming market has risen to more than double what it was worth in 2007. The video games sector is now worth £3.864bn, meaning that it is a larger market than video and music combined. The Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA) said three games each sold more than one million physical units Read More…
January 3, 2019
Apple has rattled investors with news that its sales have been slowing, blaming economic weakness in China. In a surprise disclosure, the iPhone maker said it anticipated revenue of about $84bn (£67bn) for the three months to 29 December. In November it forecast sales of at least $89bn – a prediction that had already Read More…
January 3, 2019
Next has reported a sharp rise in online sales over the Christmas period, while trading at its stores declined. The retailer said strong sales during the three weeks prior to Christmas and the October half-term holiday had made up for a “disappointing” November. In a continuation of recent trends, online sales rose 15.2% between Read More…
November 30, 2018
Kellogg’s is to put “traffic light” labelling on most of its cereal packs sold in the UK from January, having previously refused to do so. The UK government’s voluntary scheme, introduced in 2013, indicates how much salt, sugar or fat foods contain. Kellogg’s said it had made the change after having “listened” to consumers, Read More…