UK retailers endure ‘drab December’ as non-food sales fall flat

Sales of clothes and computers fall, but discount supermarkets Aldi and Lidl enjoy bumper trading

JD Sports plans to let shoppers buy through AI platforms

Retailer to allow ‘one-click purchases’ through assistants such as ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot, beginning in US

When even Poundland and charity shops are closing, we’re near a point of no return. But there is hope, says Guardian columnist John Harris

Online competition and weak consumer confidence behind fall, although sales at group’s supermarkets rose

Investment firm that also bought WH Smith’s high street business has reputation for rapid and hard-nosed restructuring

Big fall in sales in rest of Europe means split from owner’s food businesses would be distraction best avoided for year or two

Chain reports strong sales but shares drop 5% after analysts say third quarter performance was behind expectations

Bakery chain also adds 10p to a latte, bringing it to £2.25, as CEO warns of ‘a tough, challenging market’

Poor festive fashion sales deepen fears of squeeze on UK household budgets and falling high street footfall

Retailer warns that growth this year will be slower amid continuing pressures on UK employment

Shoppers hit by rising bills switch to discount chains, supermarket own-label products and buying fewer items

Owner Modella starts insolvency proceedings for both chains, saying trading is ‘extremely challenging’

UK’s fourth-largest supermarket’s sales rose 3% with 5.5m bottles of fizz and 500,000 turkeys sold

Nemiroff says products still reaching UK chains such as Sainsbury’s and Tesco despite production difficulties

UK pastry chain has plans for two new factories and 800 more branches, despite sales falling in 2025 and analysts questioning brand’s direction