FTSE 100 closes near record high as Santa Rally builds, despite weak retail sales – as it happened Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news The Guardian - UK · Dec 19, 2025
FTSE 100 Live 19 December: WH Smith pressure continues, retail sales disappoint Black Friday failed to lift the retail sector after figures for November today came in below expectations. Evening Standard · Dec 19, 2025
Many shoppers take a strange comfort of buying now and paying later – but it can come with a sting after Christmas It’s that time of year again, and retailers are pulling out all the stops to get us spending – from Black Friday to new year’s sales. The Conversation · Dec 18, 2025
Why has inflation fallen and what does it mean for me? November’s inflation rate of 3.2% means if an item cost £100 a year ago, it would now cost £103.20. The Independent UK · Dec 17, 2025
Sharp inflation drop ‘seals the deal’ for interest rate cut, economists say Shops offering Black Friday sales helped bring down inflation to the lowest rate since March. Evening Standard · Dec 17, 2025
Taylor Swift's Rare New Balance 1906R Sneakers Are Under $100 During Nordstrom's Winter Sale Who else is having Black Friday déjà vu? Marie Claire · Dec 15, 2025
Buy now, panic later is the new holiday ritual – stopping it won’t be easy The holiday season brings celebration and gift-giving, but it also ushers in something less festive: financial stress. In the UK, retailers now shape much of the spending calendar, with Black Friday one of the busiest shopping events of the year. The Conversation · Dec 15, 2025
Christmas trees are more expensive than ever in Colorado — what gives? The holiday season sparks a significant increase in consumer spending. This year, Black Friday alone saw consumers shell out a record US$11.8 billion. It’s the time of year when many Americans make purchases to decorate for the holidays — lights, ornaments and Christmas trees. The Conversation · Dec 15, 2025
15 retro kitchen appliances that would make the perfect gift this Christmas Some are even still discounted after Black Friday! T3 · Dec 15, 2025
Will London’s battered high streets get the Christmas boost they need? After a grim year, retailers are panicking that shoppers aren’t spending enough to help them survive January, writes Jonathan Prynn Evening Standard · Dec 15, 2025
Holiday Pressure: Do You Actually Know Who Pushes You to Overspend Every December? December arrives with twinkling lights, cheerful music, and an almost invisible force that squeezes your wallet harder than any black Friday deal. Suddenly, buying that extra gift, upgrading the holiday dinner, or splurging on decorations doesn’t feel optional—it feels necessary. But who—or what—is really driving you to overspend when your… Everybody Loves Your Money · Dec 14, 2025
Dior, Chanel and … Veja? The ethical Paris trainer worn by A-listers and royalty Veja doesn’t do surveys or freebies, hates greenwashing and Black Friday, and as demand for trainers wanes, it continues to go its own way The Guardian - UK · Dec 13, 2025
As a tech critic, I’ve found the best Apple AirPods deals in the January sales Major retailers have slashed prices across Apple’s earbuds in the new year salesFollow live: All the best deals in the January sales The Independent UK · Dec 11, 2025
Black Friday disappointed Xbox buyers — here’s why second-hand consoles make sense and how to buy one safely Black Friday didn’t deliver Xbox deals, but the second-hand market did. Here’s how to find a reliable used console and avoid the common pitfalls. Windows Central · Dec 10, 2025
TechRadar · Dec 10, 2025 Fifty US retailers sent nearly 42 billion emails during the Black Friday hype — and they were loaded with sneaky ways to track your habits Proton's report into Black Friday and Cyber Monday spam found that retailers are becoming overwhelmingly aggressive in their marketing tactics.
Tom’s Guide · Dec 10, 2025 Black Friday and Cyber Monday are over — should you buy a new TV now or wait? The unofficial start to the holiday shopping season has come and gone and many of the best TV deals are gone. Does that mean you should wait until after the holidays to buy a TV? Here's what to know.
What Hi-Fi? · Dec 9, 2025 The Sonos Beam (Gen 2) is still reduced to it's Black Friday price – could this be a hint towards a next-gen soundbar for 2026? Could Sonos be clearing the decks for a Beam Ultra?
Woman & Home · Dec 9, 2025 I promised to stop shopping after Black Friday, but I'm making an exception for a leopard print coat like Olivia Colman's She added a vintage twist to her elegant coat with a quirky pair of black and white shoes
The Guardian - UK · Dec 9, 2025 UK households cut spending at fastest pace in almost five years, says Barclays Bank reports 1.1% drop in card spending despite Black Friday boost for retailers
Evening Standard · Dec 9, 2025 Pre-Budget shopper ‘jitters’ dampen Black Friday sales Total retail sales across the UK increased by 1.4% year on year in November – the weakest growth in six months, BRC and KPMG figures show.
Windows Central · Dec 8, 2025 Xbox just kicked off a huge 'Beyond Black Friday' game deals sale in time for Christmas and holiday gift-giving — but there's one weird catch Microsoft and Xbox have launched a limited-time "Beyond Black Friday" sale that features an ocean of big Xbox and PC game deals, but only for DLCs and expansions.
The Mary Sue · Dec 8, 2025 ‘This is 140% markup’: Woman sees Christmas tree collar on sale for $59.99 at Michael’s. Then she peels off the price tag Michaels is facing backlash after listing a Christmas tree collar “on sale” for 59.99. Jenna (@j_marie_jo) peeled back the discounted sticker and uncovered the original price, which was 24.99.
Operation Sports · Dec 8, 2025 PS5 Takes 62% of Black Friday Sales, Switch 2 Secures Strong Second Xbox didn't have a good night.
TechRadar · Dec 8, 2025 You can still get AirPods Pro 3 for their lowest-ever Black Friday price –no, I'm not joking It's the Black Friday deal that keeps on going: save $30 on Apple's AirPods Pro 3
TechRadar · Dec 8, 2025 The PS5 crushed Black Friday, accounting for more than half of all console sales Black Friday sales data is coming in and it looks like Sony was the biggest winner of the sales event.