Latest News
Retailers score from World Cup sales
Excitement over the World Cup and better weather boosted high street sales last month.
Growth in manufacturing at 15-year high
Manufacturers enjoyed buoyant trading conditions in the second quarter, with output and order activity increasing by the highest rates since 1995.
VAT rise will cost jobs
As many as 163,000 jobs could be lost in the next four years if VAT is increased, warns the British Retail Consortium.
SMEs lax on email
Businesses are losing customers by not responding to customer emails.
Welcome boost for high street
Retail sales edged up last month, despite challenging conditions for consumer spending.
Manufacturing rebounds
Output in manufacturing has hit a 15-year high, according to industry figures.
Administrations plummet
Liquidations in the retail sector fell sharply in the first quarter of this year.
Easter sales spring into action
Retail sales were up last month largely due to Easter falling early.
Profits fall in business services
Small businesses in the consultancy and business services sectors have seen profits fall during the last six months, finds a survey.
Cash for old bangers revs SME growth
Car sales were up by 26 per cent last month compared with February last year, largely due to the success of the government’s car scrappage scheme, says the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
Shoppers splash the cash
Consumer confidence reached its highest level in two years, following news that the economy emerged from recession, says a poll from Nationwide.
Manufacturing powers ahead
Confidence among manufacturers has improved as demand for manufactured goods continues to rise, says industry body the Engineering Employers Federation (EDF).
Companies ‘blinkered’ about recession
The operating environment for businesses will ‘never return to pre-recession normality’ and a period of weak growth could continue until 2015, claims accountancy firm BDO.
