The scrapping of VAT-free shopping for international visitors has cost London's West End £310 million in lost sales during the first half of 2025, according to new research. The figure represents a 40 per cent rise on the £220 million recorded for the same period last year, and is the largest six-month loss since the scheme was abolished by the Conservative government in 2021.
In America, we have so few federal three-day weekends. The rest of the West takes off most of August, based off the Roman Feriae Augusti. Your ancestors had an August holiday in 18 BC, but you have to spend your one week of paid time if you want to see the sun. Your body feels the seasons changing, the days shortening.
The big picture: Nearly 1 in 5 adults reported buying Pokémon cards for themselves, though only a quarter actually play the game - most are collecting or investing, per Circana. This is similar to collectability of the bobblehead boom and the recent Labubu toy craze. U.S. toy sales rose 6% from January through April, according to Circana, who attributes the category's growth to new Pokémon releases and collectible sports trading cards.
Significant discounts on electric bikes are available during Amazon Prime Day, with excellent deals offered by retailers like Canyon, Jenson USA, and Backcountry.
Canadian consumers continued to spend in April, but a decline in the May advance estimate for retail sales provides another indication that the economy is heading for a stall in [the second quarter].
Kingfisher's sales increased significantly in Q1, boosted by warm weather and strong demand for seasonal products and online sales, although caution remains for the future.
Despite a challenging global geopolitical landscape, the small increase in both food and non-food sales masked signs of underlying strengthening of demand given March 2025's comparison with last year's early Easter.
