Next hikes targets as heatwave boosts sales Retail Next has upgraded its profit targets for the year after breezing past second quarter expectations, putting its shareholders in line for a bumper payday. The FTSE 100 retail giant hiked its pre-tax profit expectations for 2026 to £1.24bn, around £25m higher than previously estimates. If achieved the figure would mark 7.3 per cent growth on [...]
Soaring petrol prices and Devil Wears Prada 2 help consumer spending return to growth Economics Soaring fuel prices and box office hits helped consumer spending return to growth in May, according to fresh data from Barclays. Consumer card spending was up 0.8 per cent year-on-year last month, following a 0.1 per cent dip in April. The rise came as essential spending jumped 0.7 per cent, led by a near 12 [...]
Barclays consumer spending drops for first time since 2024 Banking Consumers using Barclays credit and debit cards cut their spending for the first time in 17 months in the latest sign of turmoil facing the global economy. Total spending was down 0.1 per cent year-on-year marking the first drop since November 2024, where Brits were feeling the pinch of Labour’s first Budget. Consumers mainly drew [...]
Reckitt: Durex condom maker strips back costs as profit inches up March 5, 2026 Consumer goods giant Reckitt posted a bump to revenue in the last financial year as its cost overhaul strategy to focus on specific divisions ramped up. The blue-chip firm – which owns a massive portfolio of brands including Dettol, Durex, Lysol, Finish, Vanish, and Gaviscon – recorded a 5.2 per cent increase in revenue, driven [...]
Gloomy Brits’ sluggish spending set to drag on economic growth February 16, 2026 Brits continued to tighten their pockets in January as economists warned sluggish spend from consumers could trigger a “sustained drag on economic growth“. S&P Global’s latest Consumer Sentiment Index (CSI) showed a reading of 44.8, indicating further deterioration across household confidence with the figure remaining below the 50.0 mark that indicates neutrality. Whilst it crept [...]
Greggs shares tumble as baker gets burnt by flaky economy January 8, 2026 Shares in Greggs took a tumble on Thursday morning after “disappointing” sales growth from a subdued economy left investors with little to cheer for. The chain’s total sales in the golden quarter rose 7.4 per cent as it opened 207 new shops in the last 12 months leading to a net gain of 121 new [...]
Air fryer frenzy sees Ninja’s European sales rocket past £1bn January 7, 2026 A surge in demand for air fryers has helped Sharkninja’s European sales surge past the £1bn mark for the first time, the firm’s latest accounts reveal. Sharkninja Europe, the UK-based subsidiary of the US consumer appliance maker, posted turnover of £1.2bn in 2024, a whopping 43 per cent increase on the previous year, as Brits [...]
After angels, before VCs: UK consumer startups are stranded in £1m-£5m no man’s land May 14, 2025 Britain's brilliant consumer startups are finding themselves stranded in a funding no man’s land, writes Joe Benn.
Sensodyne and ‘power brands’ help Haleon grow revenue and profit October 31, 2024 Consumer healthcare company Haleon has reported growth across all its categories and regions in its third quarter amid healthy toothpaste and mouthwash sales. In the three months ended 30 September, 2024, it achieved organic revenue and organic profit growth of 6.1 per cent and 7.4 per cent, respectively, off the back of strong sales of its [...]