Handel

Waterstones would stock books created using artificial intelligence, the company's boss has said, as long as they were clearly labelled, and if customers wanted them. However, James Daunt, a veteran of the bookselling industry, said he personally did not expect that to happen.more

UK households have thrown away an estimated 168m light-up Christmas items and other “fast-tech” gifts over the past year, a study suggests. The research by the non-profit group Material Focus found about £1.7bn was spent last year on Christmas lighting, including 39m sets of fairy lights.more

Christmas dinner will be slightly cheaper this year compared to last, according to new industry data. The cost of a traditional turkey dinner is £32.46, a few pence cheaper than in 2024 due to lower prices on two items. more

Last year's holiday sales record was broken on Allegro on December 16th. However, respondents in the SW Research survey indicate that this year's record may be earlier. As many as 6 in 10 Poles admit they will do their holiday shopping further in advance than usual – most often a few days (54%) or even a week or two earlier than usual (33%).more

New tests have revealed the fruit and vegetables most affected by potentially cancer-linked pesticide mixtures. Using data released by the government last month, the Pesticide Action Network (Pan) UK found 12 food items were at risk of a “cocktail effect”, meaning several pesticides mixed together increase the toxicity level of the chemicals.more

Christmas shoppers are being urged not to take “serious risks” as Brits report losing nearly £50,000 to beauty treatment scammers so far this year. Since January, Santander UK has recorded £49,846.32 reported as being stolen by beauty scammers, with an average loss of £227.more

Last year, Poland rose to second place among European exporters of Christmas baubles, overtaking Germany. At the same time, our market is flooded with cheap imports from China, which account for 80% of all ornaments reaching Poland, reported "Rzeczpospolita."more

According to the "Poles' Own Wallet: E-commerce for the Holidays" study, 46% of Poles say they most often buy cosmetics and perfumes online as holiday gifts. Respondents also frequently buy books and toys.more

Aldi has taken back its title as the UK's cheapest supermarket, Which? says. According to the latest price analysis from the consumer website, Aldi has beaten Lidl to the cheapest supermarket of the month for November.more

Poundland is preparing to shut three more branches this December, adding to the dozens already shut in recent months, as it continues a wide-ranging restructure under its new owners.more

Anyone clearing out before Christmas has been issued a stark warning over a HMRC raid. HMRC can now see online selling activity, and non-compliance with tax rules could lead to in-depth investigations or large fines that exceed your earnings.more

The cost of a pint of beer in London pubs is to rise as they are hit with a triple blow on tax, business rates and staff costs, hospitality chiefs are warning.more

The US authorities announced yesterday that British pharmaceutical products would be exempt from existing and future tariffs. Under the agreement, the British health service is to allocate more money to the purchase of innovative medicines.more

O2, Vodafone, EE and Three are facing a huge class action lawsuit over claims millions of loyal customers have been overcharged. Read this and the latest consumer and personal finance news in the Money blog, brought to you by reporter Jess Sharp.more

The Post Office has urged people to organise sending their parcels ahead of the expected busiest day at its branches on December 8. Britons are planning on sending more gifts this Christmas compared to last year – up from 20% to 33%, according to a survey for the Post Office.more

Fifty-six percent of Poles plan to spend a similar amount on Christmas shopping this year as last year, according to the "Poles' Own Wallet: E-commerce for the Holidays" study. One in five people plans to spend between PLN 1,000 and PLN 2,000 when shopping online.more

"The biggest sale of the year." "Mega offers like never before." - it's hard to escape the ads this Black Friday. Whether you're excited for the seasonal sales or avoiding the shops altogether, one thing is clear - the US shopping event which follows Thanksgiving has been fully embraced by UK retailers.more

A brand new Marks and Spencer Foodhall has opened up in a West London neighbourhood. Anyone living in Fulham will now be able to grab all of their mince pies, baileys and other Christmas treats from the newly opened branch.more

New research has revealed the UK’s top high streets for independent shops, with multiple London locations on the list. American Express and GlobalData considered factors such as the quantity of independent shops, the street’s vibrancy, and its overall aesthetic appeal. The findings were revealed ahead of this year’s Small Business Saturday, which takes place on December 6.more

Pre-packaged milkshakes and coffees that are high in sugar will be hit with an extra tax from 2028, after the health secretary announced he was extending the tax on fizzy drinks to include milk-based products.more

The list of the most expensive shopping streets in the world has been released, and a renowned shopping destination in London’s West End has come out on top. The “Main Streets Across the World” list is published every year by real estate company Cushman & Wakefield, with 2025 marking its 35th year running.more

Shoppers holding out for a Black Friday bargain on 28 November may not get the best prices, according to Which? research that found none of the offers on the day were at their lowest level over a 12-month stretch.more

Toy sales have risen for the first time since the pandemic, analysts say, as brands aim to appeal to children and adults. The value of sales rose by 6% in the year to September compared with the same period last year, according to research company Circana.more

Competing with big Christmas adverts from the likes of John Lewis, M&S, and Waitrose might seem like an impossible task, but Tesco might have just done it. Instead of overly romanticising the holiday season and trying to draw a few tears from viewers, Tesco has gone down the comical route this year with 11 brilliantly British sketches as part of their ‘That’s What Makes It Christmas’ campaign.more

What’s the most Christmassy movie ever committed to the small screen? Ignore the naysayers: obviously, it’s Love Actually. In this age of nostalgia, there’s no better way to tug on the nation’s heartstrings than by paying homage to Richard Curtis’ masterpiece. Or, indeed, by getting Keira Knightley to star in your festive advert. Talk about a one-two knockout punch.more