Shares in Kingfisher, owner of DIY chain B&Q rose sharply on Tuesday afternoon this week, on the back of rumours of a takeover. 

Argos is looking to recruit 12,000 extra staff to work in its stores over the Christmas period. 

As consumer price inflation continues to outstrip earnings growth and the average family is £11 a week worse off, consumers rein in their spending and buy into own-brand ranges. 

Retail sales volumes fell year-on-year in August at the fastest pace in more than a year, according to the latest CBI Distributive Trades Survey. 

Department store reports 3% uplift in sales for the week ended August 26, with fans, cooling equipment and large and small electricals selling well. 

A new High Street Fund has been launched by a group of UK companies and London Mayor Boris Johnson to help small businesses affected by the UK riots get back on their feet. 

Topps Tiles has issued a profit warning after like-for-like sales plunged 10.4% in the first seven weeks of its fourth financial quarter. 

John Lewis is revamping its home, electronics and menswear departments, set to launch at its Stratford City store, which opens on September 13. 

The Birmingham flooring firm has been acquired by a newly incorporated company headed by former Floors-2-Go directors David Vizor and Parjinder Sangha. It is the second time in three years that the firm has entered administration. 

Administrator Ernst & Young has confirmed that the remaining TJ Hughes department stores will close by the end of the month after it failed to find a buyer. 

The Garden Centre Group has confirmed it has completed its acquisition of Country Homes and Gardens. 

New Life & Style owner Sue Townsend is set to revamp the Ethel Austin brand, and has confirmed to DIY Week that homewares will form part of the offer "where appropriate". 

Bute Tools General Store is up for sale after 33 years' trading in the seaside town of Rothesay on the Isle of Bute, which lies in Scotland's Firth of Clyde. 

BRC snapshot survey reveals more than 11,000 members of retail staff were affected by the violent disorder just over a fortnight ago, with some stuck inside shops when looters broke in. 

UK's leading DIY firms and builders merchants have come together to tackle crime against their businesses with the creation of the DIY and Building Trade Loss Prevention Forum. 

Footfall fell 1% between May and July compared with the same period last year, according to the new BRC/Springboard-ATCM Footfall and Vacancies Monitor. 

DIY chain introduces 'Rain or Shine' weather predictor to its website, enabling users to plan their DIY or garden project for the coming Bank Holiday weekend, whatever the weather. 

Ernst & Young announces scheduled closure of a further 12 TJ Hughes department stores over the coming week 

The value of UK retail sales rose 4.3% in July compared with the same month last year, but sales volumes remained unchanged as consumers and retailers continued to face challenging conditions. 

Wilkinson is launching an upmarket own brand range of home and kitchenware products to be rolled out from October 2011.