Retailers experienced little change in sales volume year-on-year with 34% of retailers surveyed in February’s CBI Distributive Trades Survey reporting an increase, while 36% reporting a decline.

Luxury department store Harvey Nichols expects record profits this year of more than £18m.

Retailers including Boots, HMV, Kingfisher and Primark have written to the Chancellor calling on him to revise the 5.6% business rate rise to come into effect in April.

Former Somerfield managing director John Cleland is to join electricals specialist Maplin as chief executive at the start of next month.

DFS, one of the biggest spenders in advertising, has launched a new TV ad that represents a major shift away from its usual price-led campaigns.

Travis Perkins’ retail arm, which largely comprises Wickes, experienced a like-for-like decline of 1.4% last year as it was hit by a fall off in demand in kitchens and bathrooms.

Kingfisher group chief executive Ian Cheshire has received an Order of State granted by the French President for his “significant contribution to the strengthening of economic and commercial links between France and the UK”.

British Retail Consortium has urged Government to improve UK competitiveness to ensure retailers invest rather than increase their cash reserves.

French Connection is to push into the homewares market with the launch of a premium home range in April.

John Lewis Partnership has hired Lloyds Banking Group’s retail head as its group finance director.