The UK car industry continued its weak recovery from the pandemic in June with sales well below pre-Covid-19 levels, as the continuing popularity of electric vehicles provided a rare bright spot. Sales of battery-powered electric cars more than doubled year-on-year to 19,800 for June,
The former chair of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has said the huge online marketplace fostered by tech companies such as Amazon, Facebook and Google means the opportunity to “rip off ordinary people” is growing and that the regulator is struggling to keep
Combine the pandemic with rising raw material costs, stir in a labour shortage, a twist of Brexit, add a pinch of poor weather and voila … Tinned tomatoes are a taken-for-granted store cupboard staple, relied upon by Britons to whip up
London’s hopes of attracting more technology companies looking to float on the stock market have received a shot in the arm after the fintech firm Wise chose the City for a rare direct listing expected to value the company at up to £9bn. The
The West End landlord Shaftesbury has reported a wider first-half loss but is hopeful that a recovery in central London is under way, with its vacancy rate improving. The company, which owns 600 buildings in Carnaby, Seven Dials and Chinatown, and also
Factory output grew this month at the fastest rate since December 2018 to record the first large increase in UK manufacturing production in almost two years. Chemicals producers, electronic engineering firms and metal factories reported the strongest growth, with output up in 12 of
Famed in the US for its legendary burgers, Wendy’s has announced its plans to roll out restaurants across the pond. It has been announced that this summer, the American fast-food chain will be opening its first UK-based restaurant. To the delight of
The owner of British Gas has warned investors it has faced a difficult start to the year, weeks after sacking hundreds of its engineers through a controversial fire and rehire scheme to help turn the business around. Centrica told its shareholders its financial outlook
Pandora has become the first big jeweller to turn its back on mined diamonds, with the switch to lab-grown stones billed as making its jewellery more affordable. On Tuesday the mass-market brand, best known for its charm bracelets, launched Pandora Brilliance, which it
The pandemic turned 2020 into the year that fashion forgot as successive lockdowns made getting out of your pyjamas an achievement. But sales of high heels, handbags and lipstick are now roaring back as pub gardens, friends’ patios and the prospect of
