Next expects profits to top £1.1bn after bumper festive sales

Retailer warns that growth this year will be slower amid continuing pressures on UK employmentBusiness live – latest updatesThe high street retailer Next expects its annual profits to top £1.1bn after it rang up much stronger sales than expected over Christmas – but it has warned that 2026 will be tougher amid “continuing pressures on UK employment”.The clothing and homewares retailer said it was improving annual profit forecasts by £15m, its fourth upgrade in nine months, after UK sales rose by 5.9% in the nine weeks to 27 December, far stronger than the 4.1% expected. Continue reading...