Consumer confidence at near two-year high as World Cup and UK holidaying lift summer spending
Barclays says survey shows people feel more secure in jobs and have more leeway to spend on non-essentials
Car hire firm told me I was a ‘no-show’ so I lost £185
I was delayed, but I had prepaid through Holiday Autos and had provided my flight number as requested
Water companies circumventing bonus rules? What did ministers expect?
Door was left open to such behaviour because the regulator for England and Wales can only use the powers it was given by parliament
From ticket booking fees to shrinkflation, six other ways Burnham could cut cost of living
The prime minister is promising to crack down on ‘rip-off’ business practices
Octopus Energy urges millions of households to use less electricity during solar eclipse
Firm urges customers to avoid running washing machines and dishwashers between 6pm and 8pm on Wednesday
Thames Water’s £1m payout to finance chief is ‘unacceptable’, says government department
Utility firm’s payment criticised by Defra and campaign groups, with some urging Andy Burnham to nationalise it
Oil prices rise as Iran tempers optimism around strait of Hormuz reopening – as it happened
European shares mixed; UK employment market shows ‘rays of light’ for jobseekers with upturn in pay, study says
‘It’s very challenging’: how the Duke of Westminster’s farm is taking on the climate crisis
Amid world pressure from heatwaves and fertiliser shortages, billionaire’s business has invested in circular farming and biomethane
Gen Z calls it ‘loud budgeting’ – small business owners have been doing it for decades
The practice of openly proclaiming to the world what you can’t afford can lead to lower fees, reduced prices and better deals
John Lewis managing director Peter Ruis quits job after less than three years
Surprise departure comes after department store chain’s chair warned of ‘really tough trading conditions’
Not your imagination: from backpacks to food, consumer goods are getting worse
Is it possible to avoid the continuing decline in quality of consumer products brought on by corporate greed?
Millions in Great Britain could face emergency power cuts at short notice
Exclusive: Grid operator Neso can now respond with rolling blackouts as last resort without need for government powers
Harvey Nichols warns it could collapse without rescue deal, as bidders circle
Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group is frontrunner to buy Knightsbridge-headquartered department store chain
Harry Potter fans force relocation of £430m undersea cable to avoid Dobby’s ‘grave’
Power cable linking UK and Ireland now passes near Bronze Age human burial remains instead of fictional grave on Welsh beach
Hastings Direct’s failures forced my family out of our home
A leak beneath our fridge-freezer last winter caused extensive damage but there’s still no functioning kitchen