Latest news with #BenJones
Daily Mail
27-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
High street optimism slumps as retailers counted the cost of Rachel Reeves' Budget raid
The High Street suffered the sharpest drop in optimism since the pandemic this month as retailers counted the cost of Rachel Reeves's Budget raid. The Chancellor's National Insurance increase and inflation-busting minimum wage hike saw shops slash hiring and investment and threaten steep price rises. A closely watched measure of retail confidence fell at the fastest pace in five years just one month after Reeves's controversial policies came into effect. In a further blow to the High Street, a gauge of how sales fared compared to a year earlier dropped 27 per cent – and are expected to decline even faster next month – the figures from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) showed. CBI lead economist Ben Jones said: 'This was a fairly downbeat survey.'
Wales Online
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Strictly Amy Dowden appears with rarely seen husband after 'crazy busy' time
Strictly Amy Dowden appears with rarely seen husband after 'crazy busy' time On Instagram, the Welsh dancer explained that she was spending "quality time" with her husband Ben Jones Amy Dowden has gone on holiday with her husband Ben Jones (Image: Getty ) Strictly star Amy Dowden has shared a sweet snap of her and her rarely seen husband as they enjoyed a holiday together following a "crazy busy time". The professional dancer from Caerphilly posted the photo on her Instagram account of the two posing together while they made the most of their holiday abroad. In the caption, the dancer explained that she was spending "quality time" with her husband Ben Jones. The caption read: "We are in full holiday mode! Life has been crazy busy for us both this year. Super grateful for all the opportunities but have so been looking forward to getting away for some quality time together and of course some sun. "Thank you Elaine, Katie and Lauren for house sitting and of course looking after our Lenny whilst we are away". Many responded to the sweet post, with one Instagram user remarking: "Happy holidays. Enjoy the well deserved rest". Meanwhile, a fan said: "Aw guys have the loveliest holiday, so well deserved!! You look beautiful as always". While another commented: "Have the best holiday gorgeous !!! So well deserved". Article continues below The couple, who have been married since 2022, are reportedly basking in the sunshine in Dubai for their holiday. The trip comes after a busy few months for Amy. The dancer completed her UK tour, Reborn, with close friend and fellow dancer Carlos Gu at the beginning of the year. Content cannot be displayed without consent The Welsh star then found out that she would be rejoining the professional dancer cast of Strictly Come Dancing's upcoming series, which will be aired later this year. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter . Last year, the star returned to the dancing competition following her breast cancer treatment and receiving the news that there were 'no evidence of the disease'. She was paired up with JLS member JB Gill, but sadly had to pull out of the competition when she sustained a foot injury. She was then replaced by fellow professional dancer Lauren Oakley. Recently, Amy was spotted at the Royal Chelsea Flower Show, where she was presented by a sweet pea named after her. Article continues below As explained by the English Sweet Peas, who launched the Sweet Pea Amy Dowden plant, 10% of of every packet would be donated to the star's two chosen charities - CoppaFeel!, which is a breast cancer awareness charity, and Crohn's & Colitis UK, which is a UK based charity dedicated to Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and other forms of inflammatory bowel disease.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
UK retailers expect tough quarter as sentiment drops to five-year low
UK retailer sentiment experienced its most significant drop in five years in May 2025, as a greater number of businesses anticipate worsening conditions in the upcoming fiscal quarter. Findings from the Confederation of British Industry's (CBI) recent quarterly Distributive Trades Survey reveal that comparative retail sales volumes decreased during the month, with projections pointing to a still more rapid decline in June. In contrast, online sales saw an improvement over the same period, breaking a six-month trend of either decreasing or stagnant sales figures. Faced with weak demand, retailers are preparing to cut back on both investment and their workforce. Plans indicate a considerable reduction in capital spending over the coming year to May 2026 compared to the preceding 12 months. This conservative stance reflects only a slight recovery from February's sentiment, which was at its lowest since the emergence of Covid-19 in 2020. Employment within the retail sector dropped in May 2025 year-on-year, with expectations for this downward trend to pick up pace come June. Retail sales declined at a weighted balance of 27% year-on-year, worsening from April's 8% drop. Retail sales are anticipated to drop even more steeply in June - at a projected 37%. Assessing sales for the current time of year, retailers rated May's performance as 'poor', albeit less so than in April (19% compared to April -31%). Expectations for June suggest that sales will continue to trail behind typical seasonal levels at -21%. Online sales presented a contrasting picture, with an increase in volumes increasing 37% over the past year following a half-year period of stagnant or declining figures. Retailers predict online sales will rise again in June 2025 but at a more modest pace (+17%). During the month, retail selling price inflation continued to rise, but stayed beneath the long-term average for the fifth consecutive survey. Retailers anticipate that next month will bring an increased rate of price inflation at 57%. Data from the survey also revealed that orders placed with suppliers by retailers fell more sharply in May at 41%, and retailers expect to maintain this reduced level of ordering into June (-42%). CBI lead economist Ben Jones stated: 'This was a fairly downbeat survey and highlights some of the challenges facing the retail and wider distribution sector. In contrast to other recent retail data, this survey suggests parts of the sector are still struggling with fragile consumer demand, though online sales seem to be holding up better. 'Firms are also feeling the impact of higher NICs [National Insurance contributions] and the National Living Wage increase. Our quarterly survey suggests that retailers are cutting back on hiring, scaling back investment and expect to increase selling prices at the fastest pace for over a year.' Latest data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) – NielsenIQ shop price index revealed that overall shop price deflation in the UK remained steady at 0.1% year-on-year in May 2025, maintaining the same rate as in April and exceeding the three-month average deflation rate of -0.2%. "UK retailers expect tough quarter as sentiment drops to five-year low" was originally created and published by Retail Insight Network, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Fashion Network
27-05-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
UK retail sentiment plummets in May and sales fell more sharply, CBI says
Confidence among British retailers fell at the sharpest pace in five years and a decline in sales volumes gathered pace as stores expect conditions to worsen, a Confederation of British Industry survey showed on Tuesday. The CBI's quarterly gauge of business sentiment plunged in May with a net balance of firms expecting their business situation to worsen over the coming three months at -29% in May from -19% in February. It was the lowest reading since May 2020. Its monthly gauge of how retail sales compared with a year earlier fell to -27 this month - the lowest since March - from -8 in April, which had been its highest since October. A measure of expected sales for June fell to -37, the lowest since February 2024. "This was a fairly downbeat survey and highlights some of the challenges facing the retail and wider distribution sector. In contrast to other recent retail data, this survey suggests parts of the sector are still struggling with fragile consumer demand, though online sales seem to be holding up better," Ben Jones, lead economist at the CBI, said. Official data last week showed British retail sales jumped by much more than expected in April. The CBI's quarterly survey also suggested that retailers were cutting back on hiring, scaling back investment and expected to increase their selling prices at the fastest pace in more than a year.
The Independent
27-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
UK businesses warn of more job cuts as confidence drops following tax rises
Retailers in the UK are preparing to raise prices, reduce their workforce and slash investment as a new survey reveals the sharpest drop in sentiment across the sector since the pandemic. According to research by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), employment across retailers declined in the year to May, and is expected to fall faster next month. The CBI's quarterly industry gauge showed that firms also expect to cut back on investment plans in the next 12 months, while they also anticipate that price rises will continue to accelerate in June. Retailers have been hit by rising costs after the Government increased company national insurance contributions (Nics) in April, a tax which makes it more expensive to employ people. The minimum wage also increased at the same time, while consumer confidence remains low after hitting a record low in April, according to some surveys. In the wake of the changes, confidence across the retail sector has fallen at the sharpest pace in five years. The CBI said a net balance of companies expecting business to worsen over the next three months stood at minus 29 per cent, down from a reading of minus 19 per cent in February. The balance of firms that expect prices to increase at an accelerated rate next month was 57 per cent. Ben Jones, lead economist at the CBI, said: 'This was a fairly downbeat survey and highlights some of the challenges facing the retail and wider distribution sector.' Firms are 'feeling the impact of higher Nics and the national living wage increase', he added. 'In contrast to other recent retail data, this survey suggests parts of the sector are still struggling with fragile consumer demand, though online sales seem to be holding up better. 'Our quarterly survey suggests that retailers are cutting back on hiring, scaling back investment and expect to increase selling prices at the fastest pace for over a year. The net balance of firms expecting a decline in headcount next month was minus 20 per cent, while those expecting to scale back investment was minus 47 per cent.
