Josie Clarke
UK
May heatwave boosts spending on barbecue food, sandals and sunglasses
Total UK retail sales increased by 3.7% year on year in May, well above the 12-month average of 2%, according to the BRC and KPMG.
By Josie Clarke
9 Jun 2026
Business News
Tickets go on sale for National Lottery’s overhauled Lotto game
The new-look Lotto will give players two chances to win from a single ticket and is expected to double the number of millionaires a year.
By Josie Clarke
8 Jun 2026
UK
Shopper footfall suffers in record-breaking May temperatures
Sunny weather initially encouraged consumers to the shops, but soaring heat towards the end of the month led to an overall 2.6% drop in UK footfall.
By Josie Clarke
5 Jun 2026
Business
Sainsbury’s to stop selling brown eggs in major sustainability push
The UK’s second biggest supermarket said white eggs have a 12.7 per cent lower carbon footprint than brown eggs
By Josie Clarke
4 Jun 2026
Business News
Sainsbury’s to cut sales of brown eggs in sustainability drive
The UK’s second biggest supermarket said white eggs have a 12.7% lower carbon footprint than brown eggs.
By Josie Clarke
4 Jun 2026
Money
Decathlon offering cash refund to stop festival-goers abandoning tents
The offer runs until September 6 and customers need to be a Decathlon member at the time of return.
By Josie Clarke
4 Jun 2026
UK
Unintentional phone use to reach average of four years and eight months
The study by Virgin Media O2 found that more than a third of phone use (36%) now takes place without a clear purpose.
By Josie Clarke
3 Jun 2026
Business News
Ofcom launches investigation into Royal Mail delivery target failures
Royal Mail announced last week that it had missed targets for another year running.
By Josie Clarke
1 Jun 2026
Business News
Two more children’s sa
The testing by Which? follows numerous products – many of them children’s toys – recalled from shelves because of asbestos contamination.
By Josie Clarke
1 Jun 2026
UK
Two more children’s sand toys pulled over asbestos content
The testing follows numerous products – many of them children’s toys – recalled from shelves because of asbestos contamination
By Josie Clarke
1 Jun 2026
Business News
Shopping with AI leads to more sales than by traditional online searches – Adobe
Figures for May show the UK AI shopping conversion rate was up 182% year-on-year and 543% since January last year, Adobe said.
By Josie Clarke
29 May 2026
Business News
What is happening to my energy bill and what can I do?
Changes to the price cap from July amount to an increase of £18 a month for the average household using both electricity and gas.
By Josie Clarke
27 May 2026
UK
Grocery price inflation slows again despite warnings of Iran war cost hikes
Supermarket prices were 3.1% higher than a year ago in May, down from April’s 3.8% and March’s 4.3%, figures from Worldpanel by Numerator show.
By Josie Clarke
27 May 2026
Business News
Betting ads featuring Harry Kane and Erling Haaland banned
The ASA found both ads were likely to appeal to people younger than 18.
By Josie Clarke
27 May 2026
Business News
Household energy prices to jump by 13% from July
The average household using both electricity and gas will see an increase of about £18 per month.
By Josie Clarke
27 May 2026
Business News
Food staple prices set to remain more expensive in long term – report
Food price rises leading on from ‘major shocks’ tend to come down only slowly and partially afterwards, according to analysis from the ECIU.
By Josie Clarke
26 May 2026
UK
Slight improvement in consumer confidence amid ‘clear challenges ahead’
GfK’s long-running Consumer Confidence Index rose by two points in May, but is still four points lower than this time last year at minus 23.
By Josie Clarke
22 May 2026
UK
Consumer confidence rises slightly following signs of Iran ‘de-escalation’
Confidence in the economy over the next three months remains firmly in negative territory at minus 48, but up from minus 53 last month.
By Josie Clarke
21 May 2026
UK
Four dogs stolen every day across UK last year, police figures suggest
Breeds such as French bulldogs, Staffordshire bull terriers and dachshunds are most at risk, analysis of police data by Direct Line found.
By Josie Clarke
21 May 2026
Money
John Lewis, Boots and Debenhams Black Friday deal ads ‘misled shoppers’
The Advertising Standards Authority said it had not seen evidence the advertised deals represented genuine savings.
By Josie Clarke
20 May 2026
Business News
Swatch boss defends ‘extraordinary’ Royal Pop launch
Demand for the watch, which costs from £335 and is not available to buy online, led to police being called to overcrowding at multiple stores.
By Josie Clarke
19 May 2026