Funding for petrochemical alternatives picks up after a painful slump
Luxury slowdown sees return of design classics; unique material gives high-end timepieces extra allure; fine art meets wearable design in Palm Beach; chef Ruth Rogers on kitchen safe jewellery; benefactors keep oldest Swiss horology school ticking
Gem-set timepieces dominate this year’s releases, reflecting high-ticket demand for models made from jewels and precious metals
Swiss watchmakers also aim to regrow the market by focusing on classical looking mechanical designs
Decline in drinking comes as calls grow for health warnings and moderation goes mainstream
Office for National Statistics updates items used to measure price growth as spending habits evolve
A puzzling tale of capitalism and consumer psychology at a time of technological change
The high spirits that greeted the US president’s election triumph in November have faded
US group attempts to reboot and recapture the glamour of its 1990s and 2000s heyday after years of flagging sales
And weak sales of big-ticket items
Kit Kat, Louis Vuitton, and McDonald’s are among the companies attracted to rising awareness around the sport
Other challenges include price and taste expectations, with Gen Zers most likely to succumb
A softening in the market is a harbinger of things to come — in both equities and the real economy
Will incessant discounts entice online shoppers to splurge — or simply unsubscribe?
Younger people in particular have often unfounded worries over lack of funds
Beware the time-consuming lure of gut-reaction trading from your handset
Partisanship continues to pollute results of influential surveys of consumer and business sentiment
Eurozone household sentiment diverges from American counterparts, whose buoyant spending is fuelling growth
Interest rate cuts should support a rise in spending in durable goods
Megan Greene says understanding reasons for current sluggish spending will be ‘crucial’ to monetary policy outlook
From Ikea to Vinted, younger consumers are showing a taste for pre-owned clothes and furniture. But can the sector actually make money?
World’s largest toymaker posts record results thanks in part to video game tie-ups and sports brand partnerships
Savoury relief
US hardware retailer says customers are becoming more uneasy about the economy
When concerns about high prices prompted shoppers to look around, many liked what they saw
