Josie Clarke
Business News
Consumer confidence plunges among younger adults
GfK’s long-running Consumer Confidence Index remained unchanged at an overall score of minus 23 in June.
By Josie Clarke
19 Jun 2026
Business News
CMA orders Marks Electrical to refund customers over opt-ins to extra services
The retailer will pay affected customers an average of £15 each – totalling around £600,000, the Competition and Markets Authority said.
By Josie Clarke
18 Jun 2026
Business News
Gambling ads in football creating ‘tidal wave of normalisation’, Lords told
James Grimes, from Gambling with Lives, said gambling advertising and sponsorship in football is a ‘priority issue’.
By Josie Clarke
18 Jun 2026
UK
British raspberries up to 50% sweeter after cool spring and May sun, say growers
This season’s crop was registering unusually highly on the Brix scale, which measures the approximate sugar content of fruit, figures suggested.
By Josie Clarke
17 Jun 2026
Business News
Pub bookings surge by 300% for England’s World Cup kick-off
Bookings for pub arrivals up to two hours before England’s opener against Croatia on Wednesday are up 293%, according to technology provider Zonal.
By Josie Clarke
17 Jun 2026
Business News
Food inflation may not reach worst-case scenario but will last longer – industry
Latest predictions suggest households with children would need to find an extra £203 for food and drink this year, and another £207 next year.
By Josie Clarke
17 Jun 2026
UK
Cremation firm ad banned for ‘misleadingly implying’ plan included a service
The ASA said the ad misleadingly implied that the standard Pure Cremation package included an in-person funeral service, when this was not the case.
By Josie Clarke
17 Jun 2026
Business News
Energy debt fears plaguing third of UK households – survey
Among those in energy debt, the median amount owed to an energy supplier was £750, the poll for the End Fuel Poverty Coalition found.
By Josie Clarke
16 Jun 2026
Business News
Prawn cocktails and pavlova back on menu as 1980s revival boosts demand
Waitrose, Vogue and London restaurants have all reported a surge in interest in the era’s food and fashions.
By Josie Clarke
13 Jun 2026
Business News
Poorest families must spend 85% of disposable income to get healthy diet – study
Healthier food is nearly twice as expensive per calorie as less healthy alternatives, according to the Food Foundation’s annual Broken Plate report.
By Josie Clarke
11 Jun 2026
Tech
Fake phone chargers filled with modelling clay sold by major retailers
Which? bought 15 USB phone chargers, finding that nine were so badly manufactured that anyone using them was at risk of an electric shock.
By Josie Clarke
11 Jun 2026
Tech
Electric shock warning over phone chargers sold on Amazon and eBay
Which? found nine phone chargers so badly manufactured that anyone using them was at risk of receiving an electric shock
By Josie Clarke
10 Jun 2026
Business News
Millions unaware of available support with household bills as debt soars – NAO
The watchdog said Ofgem, Ofwat and Ofcom must strengthen support for consumers in vulnerable circumstances.
By Josie Clarke
10 Jun 2026
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