UK consumer businesses expect to see their financial performance improve this year, but their confidence falls below the global trend, according to a new survey from KPMG International. 

Fire at garden centre in Kibblesworth, Gateshead, which caused around £30,000 worth of damage, may have been started deliberately. 

John Lewis has reported a 7.6% sales uplift for the week to April 23, 2011, as customers enjoyed the sunny weather. 

While the number of full-time jobs in UK retail picked up in the first quarter of 2011, March figures saw a decline on last year, with a sharp increase in the number of redundancies. 

Fermoy's Garden Centre Café is celebrating this week after its cupcakes were judged best in the UK at the Bakers' Fair in Newberry on April 10. 

DIY giant films its own versions of classics, including Psycho, The Shining and Poltergeist, with a DIY twist as part of new viral campaign. 

Carpetright has issued its second profit warning in a month after sales declined further in the 11 weeks to April 16, 2011. 

The UK economy has grown by 0.5% in the first quarter of 2011, according to the latest figures from the Office of National Statistics, allaying fears of a 'double dip recession'. 

Mobile retail searches surged 181% year-on-year for the three months to March 2011, according to the new BRC-Google Online Retail Monitor launched today. 

Homebase has rolled out collection facilities for low-energy light bulb recycling across its 320 stores. 

Latest Business Insolvency Index from Experian reveals increase in average financial strength score from April 2010 to March this year. 

The latest SRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor has revealed Scotland's first fall in total sales for more than a decade. 

The six Bennetts stores recently acquired by Hughes Electrical are all trading above expectations, according to a statement from Hughes released this week. 

GIMA is urging all garden manufacturers to put their products forward for inclusion in the new Alan Titchmarsh TV series Love Your Garden, to be aired from June 10. 

Dutch firm sees 13% uplift in decorative paints, with promotional activity helping to grow market share in the UK. 

Home Retail Group (HRG) full-year results, issued this morning, show Homebase has outperformed both its sister chain Argos and the group results for the 52 weeks to February 26. 

Argos md Sara Weller is stepping down from her position "for personal reasons", parent company Home Retail Group (HRG) announced this morning. 

Alan Silverwood, founder and chairman of bakeware specialist Alan Silverwood, died peacefully on April 17, his 85th birthday. 

B&Q operations director Martyn Phillips has been promoted to the new role of ceo for B&Q UK and Ireland with immediate effect. 

Online spending increased by 18% during Q1 2011 compared with the same period last year, the strongest first quarter growth since 2008, according to the latest IMRG Capgemini e-Retail Sales Index report.