UK retail sales slip in gloomy end to 2018. Fall in December turnover comes after Black Friday drove November rise
Spending on smartphones overtakes shopping centres. Nine out of 10 shoppers surveyed had bought from Amazon in the past year
Lombard – Will investors check out of Whitbread (WTB) after coffee deal? Chief Alison Brittain struggles with vacant rooms in UK and Germany
Shareholder fears grow over future of Patisserie Holdings (CAKE). Café chain in urgent talks with lenders to extend financing deal beyond Friday deadline
Hitachi pullout throws UK nuclear policy into disarray. Falling cost of renewables adds to pressure for rethink of energy strategy
New radar can stop drones disrupting airports say experts. Scientists warn that UK airports have been slow in adopting new technologies
Scottish shopping centre’s £1 price tag sign of retail woes. Sites such as the Postings in Kirkcaldy are being sold as redevelopment opportunities
UK banks braced for slump in consumer borrowing. Survey shows greater gloom on credit card lending than during the financial crisis
Hitachi shelves new Welsh nuclear plant. Japanese company writes off $2.8bn and triggers questions on future of UK energy policy
Associated British Foods (ABF) – Primark defies wider retail gloom with strong Christmas. Low prices continue to draw consumers as chain presses on with overseas expansion
