Business
Next expected to reveal sales momentum despite consumer pressure
Next is expected to report further growth for the past quarter as the high street chain continues to shrug off the squeeze on consumer finances.
Shares in the company lifted on Friday to a new record high as investors continue to buy into the group.
The company has been a consistent bright spot across the retail sector in recent years, posting robust trading despite cost-of-living pressures and higher operating costs.
The fashion retailer, which runs 899 stores, is set to report on its trading for the past three months on Wednesday October 29.
It is expected to show continued sales growth although this could see a slowdown compared with the first half of the financial year.
In an update last month, bosses at Next said full price sales are on track to grow by 4.5% over the half-year to January 2026, compared with a year earlier.
It comes after the company said full price sales grew by 10.9% in the half-year to July, with total sales up 10.3%.
The projected slowdown in growth came as chief executive and Conservative peer Lord Simon Wolfson indicated that consumer sentiment was cooling in the face of economic uncertainty and rising unemployment.
“The medium to long-term outlook for the UK economy does not look favourable,” he said in September.
“To be clear, we do not believe the UK economy is approaching a cliff edge. At best we expect anaemic growth.”
However, industry data has pointed to resilient recent retail sales despite this.
Next shares were boosted by data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) which showed that retail sales volumes grew by 0.5% in September.
It came despite analysts predicting a decline for the month and marked the fourth consecutive month of growth.
Investors will therefore be hopeful that this points to resilient consumer spending habits.
Michael Hewson at MCH Market Insights said: “We’ve seen another decent quarter for Next shareholders with the share price posting a new record high this month, despite concerns over a continued squeeze on consumer incomes.
“When Next reported back at the end of July there was some scepticism that the retailer would be able to carry on its recent trend of raising its guidance that has been the hallmark of a lot of its recent trading numbers.”
Business
Trump says he could send National Guard to airports ‘for more help’
President Donald Trump said he’s considering sending the National Guard to U.S. airports, two days after the administration deployed Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to several major U.S. airports following hourslong waits for travelers because of the partial government shutdown.
In a Truth Social post Wednesday, Trump blamed Democrats for the shutdown, which began Feb. 14.
“Thank you to our great ICE Patriots for helping. It makes a big difference,” he wrote in his post. “I may call up the National Guard for more help.”
Travelers wait in line at a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoint at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) in Atlanta, Georgia, US, on Monday, March 23, 2026.
Elijah Nouvelage | Bloomberg | Getty Images
More than 11% of TSA officers called out on Wednesday and over 450 have quit since the shutdown started, the Department of Homeland Security said.
Elevated absences of Transportation Security Administration officers, who are required to work though they’re not getting paid during the shutdown, have contributed to long lines at major U.S. airports, including in Atlanta, Houston and New York.
The DHS, which oversees both ICE and and the TSA, said the ICE agents will “support airports facing the greatest strain” but the department didn’t respond to requests for comment on what the ICE agents’ duties are. ICE agents are getting paid in the shutdown.
Airlines have been warning customers about potentially long security lines, while executives grow increasingly frustrated with lawmakers about the impasse. On Tuesday, Delta Air Lines said it suspended its airport escorts and other special services for members of Congress and their staff because of the ongoing partial shutdown of the DHS.
The shutdown comes as Democrats in Congress have demanded changes to how federal immigration enforcement operates in exchange for releasing DHS funding after two U.S. citizens were shot and killed by ICE officers in Minneapolis.
Business
Families offered support with food costs over Easter holidays
Low-income families are being offered help with the cost of food during the Easter holidays.
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Video: What Soaring Fuel Costs Mean for Your Air Travel
new video loaded: What Soaring Fuel Costs Mean for Your Air Travel
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