Shop price inflation eases in relief for cash-strapped Brits March 3, 2026 Shop price inflation slowed in February, as retailers introduced a raft of promotions to ease the cash burden on struggling shoppers. The price of goods in UK shops grew at a rate of 1.1 per cent in February year on year, down from the 1.5 per cent rate of inflation seen in January, according to [...]
Greggs profit flakes as baker faces lukewarm start to year March 3, 2026 Profit at Greggs is flaking away as the chain bakery faces a lukewarm 2026, with sales slowing already this year. The chain’s underlying profit before tax fell nine per cent to £171.9m in the financial year to December 2025, though total sales were up seven per cent, the bakery’s preliminary results show. The baker is [...]
Owner of former WH Smith shops calls for help as stores at risk March 2, 2026 The investment firm which owns a string of former WH Smith stores has called in emergency advisors as it prepares for a drastic restructuring which could leave 80 stores at risk. Modella Capital, which bought stationers WH Smith’s retail division in June 2025, has brought on advisers at consultancy firm Teneo to direct its restructuring, [...]
Mortgage approvals fall to two-year low March 2, 2026 Mortgage approvals slumped to a two-year low in January as buyers remain cautious following months of damaging uncertainty around the November Budget. Net mortgage approvals for house purchases dropped to 60,000 in January, six per cent below the 64,100 six-month average, according to new Bank of England figures. The property market is still suffering from [...]
Competition watchdog probes top hotel chains over data sharing March 2, 2026 The UK’s competition watchdog has launched a probe into top hotel chains including Hilton, Marriott and FTSE 100 giant IHG over their suspected use of a data analytics tool to share information with each other. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) announced the investigation on Monday morning, which centres around the hotel chains’ use of [...]
Brewdog bought by US cannabis giant in £33m deal March 2, 2026 Craft beer giant Brewdog has been sold to American cannabis and brewing group Tilray Brands for £33m after co-founder James Watt reportedly walked away from a comeback deal. Tilray Brands, a pharma firm which sells cannabis and alcoholic lifestyle products, has agreed a deal to acquire most of the brand’s assets. The announcement of a [...]
House price growth holds steady in February March 2, 2026 House prices held steady in the year to February and rose slightly from last month, according to Nationwide’s house price index. The average UK house price last month was £273,176, up 0.3 per cent from January, and annual price growth was unchanged at one per cent. A continued improvement in affordability helped drive first-time buyers [...]
Hornby offloads toy car brand Scalextric for £20m February 27, 2026 Hornby, the model railway firm advised by Mike Ashley, has agreed to sell toy car racing brand Scalextric for £20m. Castelnau, Hornby’s parent company, announced on Friday it will sell the toy brand to Purbeck Capital Partners. Hornby, which also sells toy planes and cars under the Airfix and Corgi brands, has owned Scalextric since [...]
Labour accused of ignoring rental housing February 27, 2026 Chancellor Rachel Reeves has been warned she must “take sharp notice” of the collapse of John Lewis’ housing venture by investing immediately in the build-to-rent sector. The Association for Rental Living (ARL), the body which represents the build-to-rent sector, has sent an open letter to senior Labour figures calling on the government to develop a [...]
Rightmove boss talks down ChatGPT threat and defends AI investment February 27, 2026 Property giant Rightmove sought to walk a tightrope when it launched its financial results on Friday, as its execs stood by the firm’s divisive AI plans while distancing themselves from silicon valley giant OpenAI. Friday’s results offered an opportunity to calm the shareholders who wiped £1bn off the firm’s value when it announced its AI [...]
