The less flamboyant of the two gate lodges at Dromana Estate is charming in its own right, says Trish Dromey.

One of the UK’s leading fashion chains warned today that prices may rise by as much as 8% next year due to higher costs and January’s VAT hike in the UK.

Upmarket fashion chains are enjoying faster sales growth than budget clothes stores, research out in the UK says.

Primark is set to overtake George at Asda as the UK’s most popular cheap chic fashion chain, a report out today predicts.

The era of fast fashion at rock-bottom prices could be coming to an end, experts warned today.

Online retail spending soared by a third to hit a record £10.9bn (€16bn) in the UK last year, a report out today says.

The FTSE 100 Index edged towards the 5600 mark today in the last full trading session ahead of Christmas.

Leisure group Hilton was the toast of the London market today as investors cheered news that it had received expressions of interest in Ladbrokes.

Discount clothing retailer Primark appeared to have the UK’s best known shopping street in its sights today.

Retailer Next’s share of the childrenswear market has surged to more than double that of rival Marks & Spencer, research is expected to show this week.

A VERDICT is expected today in the mass trial of 65 people accused of participating in a paedophilia network that raped and prostituted children in western France.

More retailers in Britain will be driven to the wall in 2005 as the high street endures the slowest growth for more than 40 years, a study showed today.

Tesco is poised to overtake all its smaller rivals in the UK to become the largest operator of convenience stores this year, research showed today.

MARKS & SPENCER was dealt a fresh blow yesterday when a report highlighted the growing impact of supermarkets on its childrenswear market.

Marks & Spencer was dealt a fresh blow today when a report highlighted the growing impact of supermarkets on its childrenswear market.

Swedish retailer Ikea racked up record sales of more than €1bn over the past year as customers snapped up its flat-pack furniture, it emerged today.

JACK COHEN’S profit from his first day in business was £1. More than 80 years later, Tesco, the company he founded, has just reported annual profits of £1.7 billion.

High street sales are expected to hit record highs, helped by low interest rates and fair weather.

Troubled high street store Marks & Spencer was today hoping to revive its fortunes with the launch of a new womenswear collection.

Selling clothes to women is a tough task, with spending on womenswear recording its lowest growth for a more than a decade last year.