UK consumer confidence has risen again although it remains fragile as there are few signs of economic stability. And while intentions to purchase are improving, consumers are still generally very cautious.

More figures are emerging to show that UK retail sales have started to recover but remain well down on where they should be at this time. And fashion is still under heavy pressure.

The chairman of Sainsbury's on Thursday defended the six-year tenure of former chief executive Mike Coupe after an investor asked if he would say sorry for its share price performance under his leadership.

Many retailers are taking the opportunity afforded them by the end of lockdowns to refresh aspects of their business and the latest to do so is Marks & Spencer, which is relaunching its loyalty programme, Sparks.

The debate is raging about how permanent consumers’ move to online shopping will be post-Covid-19. But a new report suggests it could have shifted the balance between retail and e-tail more durably than some believe. 

Primark had some good news on Thursday, saying that since its last trading update a month ago, its stores have reopened more quickly than expected, particularly in Ireland, and trading is on an upswing.

On what should have been a ‘normal’ day in the UK retail sector, John Lewis became latest company to announce negative news with the prospect of store closures and job cuts ahead.

As of June 26, while British Land had been able to collect 88% of the rent owed for its office properties, in retail, only 36% of the rent due for the June quarter had come in.

Major British retail landlord Hammerson issued an update on Wednesday that showed reopenings in England, Ireland and France are well under way, but it has been struggling to collect rents from some retail tenants.

UK retail footfall rose in the second week of English and Northern Irish stores reopening, the BRC-ShopperTrak Footfall Monitor has shown.

Hong Kong’s retail sales in May slumped 32.8% from a year earlier, falling for the 16th consecutive month as the virus pandemic slammed the brakes on tourism and spending in the city.

The news this month that Lord Andrew Tyrie, the chair of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), would exit his role was driven by a major clash with the CMA’s top executive Andrea Coscelli, a report has claimed.

"Expect a slow recovery from the pandemic in 2020", warned Bernard Arnault, chairman and CEO of LVMH, whose giant group on Tuesday morning announced a 20% reduction dividend in 2019.

While online retail boomed during lockdown, it's interesting that e-sales are still soaring even though non-essential shops have reopened in much of the UK. But it seems some e-fashion activity has moved back to shops.

Oliver Bonas has secured a vital loan to see it through the current crisis period with the fashion and lifestyle retailer having secured £3.5m of additional funding guaranteed by the government’s coronavirus scheme.

News of Intu’s administration filing has been quickly followed by speculation over whether the firm will be broken up with one report saying a creditor is urging a fast sale of the Trafford Centre, Intu’s top asset.