Retail sales volumes received a World Cup boost in June after strong sales of electrical goods drove a faster-than-expected 0.7% monthly rise, official data out today showed. The Office for National Statistics said sales volumes rose 1.3% on the year, also faster than the 1.0% gain expected after an upward revision to May's monthly reading to 0.8% from 0.6%...more »

Kingfisher, Europe's biggest home improvements retailer, said it was on track to meet first-half profit expectations, with cost cutting and business improvement measures offsetting a dip in sales. "While we remain cautious about the outlook for consumer spending, we are confident that the strengths of the group and our well established self-help initiatives leave us well-placed to continue our good progress over the balance of the year," said Chief Executive Ian Cheshire...more »

For the second year in a row, Marks & Spencer is Britain’s most trusted retailer, according to a YouGov survey commissioned by integrated marketing communications agency Baber Smith.

The Insight Survey by Baber Smith, which this year explores consumer trust in the retail and financial services (FS) sectors, reveals M&S as the most trusted retailer in Britain with 39% of consumers rating it as one of their top three most trustworthy retailers. John Lewis (26%) and Boots (23%) complete the top three in the trustworthy stakes. Tesco’s dominance of the supermarket sector (according to the survey, 82% of consumers have used the supermarket in the past 12 months) fails to translate into trust, coming one place and 1% behind Asda (at 20%) in fifth with 19%...more »