City and Corporate

Ethel Austin and Au Naturale to close a further 81 stores

MCR, the administrators of value clothing retailer Ethel Austin and its sister company Au Naturale, has confirmed that a further 81 stores will cease to trade in the next 3 to 4 weeks. This follows the closure of 124 stores last month.     Read more..

SRC - Scottish retail's worst February since 1999

Like-for-like sales in February were 1.1% lower than in February 2009, when they had fallen 0.9%. Total sales in February were 1.9% up on a year ago.     Read more..

Debenhams sees sales and profits up

Debenhams has reported sales, gross margin and profit all up in the half-year to 27th February.     Read more..

London sales rebound from snow blip.

Retail sales in central London in February were 9.9% higher on a like-for-like basis than a year ago, when sales had risen 5.8% according to the BRC-KPMG London retail sales monitor.     Read more..

French Connection to sell Nicole Farhi and cut US stores

French Connection said it will close the majority of its loss making operations in the US and sell its Nicole Farhi brand following a strategic review.     Read more..

Liberty confirms bid talks

Liberty has confirmed rumours it is talking to potential buyers     Read more..

John Lewis staff to share £151m bonus

John Lewis employees are to share in a £151m bonus pot after the company reported a steep rise in profits.     Read more..

Wetherspoon reinstates dividend

Turnover up 4.1% to £488.1m (2009: £468.7m)     Read more..

Customer growth drives record performance for Morrisons

Value prices continue to attract customers and drive market share growth in the year ahead.     Read more..

Home Retail slightly ahead of expectations

Home Retail Group, said benchmark profit before tax for the year will be around £290m, slightly ahead of current market expectations.     Read more..

More dark clouds on the horizon bring challenges for retailers

More warnings about the prospects for the economy and its effect on retail in 2010 emerged last week, with indications from one retailer that the sector is not out of the woods yet. By Helen Dickinson     Read more..

February sales figures point to growth on the High Street

Mid-size high street retailers are performing well and consumer demand continues to grow.     Read more..