Just how major the changes have been on Britain's high streets after two years of lockdowns and trading restrictions can be seen in a new report, with department stores and fashion retail hit the hardest.

​Battersea Power Station has named Sam Cotton Head of Asset Management and Kate Boothman Meier Head of Communications and Marketing following its reopening as a major London mall in October.

​UK consumer spending rose last month, but it didn’t manage to keep up with inflation so represented a drop in real terms, two key monthly surveys showed on Tuesday.

The Inditex-owned homeware and decor brand, Zara Home, has launched a detergent that reduces microfibre release by up to 80%. The formula was developed together with BASF. 

More than half of Chinese say they will put off travel abroad, for periods from several months to more than a year, even if borders re-opened tomorrow, a sign that consumer recovery from Covid-19 measures will take time.

Carnaby is a major year-round draw for London visitors and shoppers, but it takes on an added significance during its renowned Christmas installations. And this year's lights celebrate moments from the past 25 years.

​At last, some much-needed good news for UK retailers. Footfall rose 5.4% week-on-week across all UK retail destinations in the seven days to 3 December, said Springboard. Increases were seen across all key destinations.

​Amazon, M&S and Adidas have emerged strongly from the newly-launched Retail Performance Index compiled by agency VCCP. It’s based on a survey of 3,000 consumers and looks at strength in “the buying moment”.

​Tax-free shopping among Gen Z consumers is growing faster than for any other age group, new research from software and payments specialist Planet shows.

It’s a UK retail first for The Yards. The newest shopping location in London’s Covent Garden has chosen pioneering geo-located technology for its ‘12 Drops of Christmas’ festive campaign.

Quite a milestone for Pepco Group. No wonder it calls itself “the fast-growing" pan-European variety discount retailer having just opened its 3,000th Pepco store, in Berlin, with more in the pipeline.

When pure retail just isn’t enough. John Lewis Partnership is branching out into the UK’s growing ‘built-to-rent’ property market, converting parts of its Waitrose supermarket spaces into residential apartments.

Pantone has introduced Pantone 18-1750 Viva Magenta as the colour of the Year. A nuanced crimson red tone with a balance between warm and cool, it's a hybrid colour.

Oxford Street’s status as one of London’s (and Britain’s and Europe’s) key shopping attractions could be at risk. The profile of its tenants is changing with 1 million sq ft of former retail space to be lost to offices.

Despite a much-needed boost from Black Friday, November’s retail footfall numbers across the UK fell from October “as consumers continue to hold out for cheaper discounts at the end of December", says Springboard.

Simon Porte Jacquemus is venturing into the world of bedding and homewear via a collaboration with Danish home textiles brand Tekla available on their e-commerce and its Paris boutique.