Handel

Cost-of-living pressures mean more people will borrow money this month to fund the festive celebrations, according to research commissioned by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC). more

Times may be tough for high street businesses, but one town in Wales seems to be bucking the trend. Cardigan has recently been named as one of the prettiest places to do Christmas shopping in the UK by The Times newspaper.more

Millions of UK consumers could receive payouts after a legal claim was launched against mobile phone networks. Justin Gutmann, a former executive at Citizens Advice, alleges Vodafone, EE, Three and O2 overcharged customers for phones beyond the end of their contract. more

Polish Christmas markets have moved up significantly in international rankings in recent years. Those in Krakow and Wrocław usually rank higher than fairs in Germany. German models used to be an inspiration, now "the student has clearly outgrown the master" - says the MDR station portal.more

Each month Which? compares the price of a basket and a trolley of goods from each of the major UK supermarkets to find which one is the cheapest and the most expensivemore

A new report from the Excel Recruitment group shows that retailers on the Green Island are increasing base salaries to retain departing employees. This phenomenon has been reported mainly in the clothing and non-food trade industries.more

Wilko is back on the high streets with two shops opening for the first time since the discount homeware retailer went into administration. The chain announced back in October that five shops would be opening before Christmas after CDS Superstores took it over. more

An ID card that appears to belong to a Chinese prisoner was found inside the lining of a coat from the British brand Regatta, raising concerns that the clothing was manufactured using prison labour.more

More than a quarter of UK adults say they are likely to use buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) to help ease spending over the festive period, Citizens Advice has found. more

Online marketplaces are experiencing a surge in sales of secondhand goods amid the cost of living crisis and customers choosing to shop more sustainably. more

Three-quarters of big names in areas such as baby formula raise prices faster than costs, says watchdog.more

Over half of Brits are saving money all year to cover Christmas costs, a study from John Lewis has found. And over a third make festive purchases using credit or finance options - putting £300, on average, onto a credit card for Christmas necessities. more

The rare Bounty bar is made out of solid gold and measures 10cm long and 4cm wide – the same size as a full-size bar out of its wrapper. It weighs a whopping 1kg and is expected to only increase in price as the cost of gold does. more

Hundreds of Amazon staff have gone on strike as people take advantage of Black Friday, one of the year's busiest shopping days. more

From January 2022 to the end of August 2023, 541 companies imported 4.3 million tons of cereals and oil plants from Ukraine worth PLN 6.2 billion - reports "Rzeczpospolita" based on the Supreme Audit Office's report.more

Shoplifting is “creeping in” among the middle classes because of faulty self-checkouts, the chairman of Marks & Spencer has said... more

This year, for the first time in the European Union, more new electric cars were registered than diesel cars, reports the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA).more

Just one in 50 Black Friday deals are at their cheapest price on the day of the sales extravaganza, according to analysis of last year’s event by a leading consumer group. more

London businesses struggling with sales due to the cost-of-living crisis are calling on the government to relax Sunday trading rules in the capital. more

Parents are being warned to watch out for fake deals being advertised online this Black Friday. more

A bottle of Scotch whisky considered "the most desirable" has sold for a record £2.1 million. The price significantly exceeded pre-sale estimates of PLN 750,000. up to £1.2 million.more

Supermarket giant Morrisons plans to convert scores of self-scan tills to card only in a fresh blow for shoppers who rely on cash. more

Three bakeries in the Somme department in the north of France are offering baguettes in November at a price that indigent customers choose and can pay. The action is aimed at "fighting inflation", commented the head of the bakery.more

Amazon has been accused of showing contempt for UK consumer law by insisting that customers whose orders fail to arrive submit a police report in order to qualify for a refund. more

Royal Mail has been fined £5.6 million by regulator Ofcom for a “significant” failure to meet its postal delivery targets in the past financial year. more