UK retail sales drop unexpectedly as shoppers await Black Friday and budget

Supermarkets, clothing stores and online mail order firms suffer sales declines as consumers delay purchases

UK is worst-performing market for JD Sports as youth unemployment hits sales

Lack of spare cash among under-25s feeds slide in sales with annual profits to be at lower end of expectations

Supermarket still losing market share despite effort under Allan Leighton to win over customers with price cuts

Online grocer had a deal with Kroger to build 20 customer fulfilment centres but three of the sites are to close

Company slashes profit outlook as it takes hit from blunder in North American division

Delivery company struggling to convince US chain Kroger, its most important customer, of the virtues of automation

Developers are turning to health-related activities as traditional stores hit by online retail continue to close

John Furner, the retail chain’s boss in the US, will succeed McMillion as global CEO after 31 January

British luxury brand urges chancellor to pursue ‘progressive policies’ in budget to increase spending sprees by foreigners

Some of this year’s Christmas must-haves also expected to appeal to older generations

Prices are rising fastest in markets such as chocolate confectionery, fresh meat and coffee, figures show

Products that fail fire safety checks, are counterfeit and breach laws protecting children targeted in raids in London

Industry body says shoppers are waiting for discount day, as Barclays reports falling consumer confidence

Barclay family set to lose another part of former business empire, once known as Littlewoods, to Carlyle Group

Boss of supermarket urges Rachel Reeves not to fuel inflation with tax rises on retailers and suppliers