7:52 am, June 24, 2026
UK business growth slides to 14-month low as service sector shrinks
It also came as firms continued to increase prices in reaction to cost pressures from the Middle East conflict and government policy.
The S&P Global flash UK composite purchasing managers’ index (PMI), which is watched closely by economists, recorded a reading of 49.4 for June, decreasing from 49.7 in May.
Calvin Klein, Adidas and Uniqlo ads banned for misleading ‘recycled’ claims
Ads for Calvin Klein, Adidas and Uniqlo have been banned for making misleading claims about the recycled content of their clothing.
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) found all three retailers used the word ‘recycled’ to describe their fabric or product composition but did not provide any information explaining the claim.
Adidas said it believed consumers would interpret its ad for ‘recycled running shoes’ as meaning they contained materials derived from recycled sources.
Skoda tops electric line-up with new Peaq flagship
Skoda has introduced a new flagship EV model with its seven-seater Peaq.
Set to go on sale in September, the Peaq arrives with a range of up to 390 miles and the ability to charge from 10 to 80 per cent in around 28 minutes.
Skoda has already confirmed that the Peaq will be priced from £51,980 with SE L, Edition and SportLine and the option of either two- or all-wheel-drive.
The markets
The FTSE 100 edged lower on Tuesday, held back by weak miners – while fresh US tech falls and soft UK economic data added to the muted mood.
The FTSE 100 closed down 9.00 points, 0.1%, at 10,428.85. The FTSE 250 ended down 270.54 points, 1.2%, at 22,926.47, while the AIM All-Share fell 11.68 points, 1.5%, to 782.59.
In European equity markets on Tuesday, the Cac 40 in Paris ended down 0.7%, while the Dax 40 in Frankfurt fell 1.0%.
Tuesday on Car Dealer
- Family-run BMW dealer Partridge of Hampshire celebrates ‘another year of strong profitability’
- Cazoo adds WhatsApp to mobile website and app to make customer conversations easier
- Dealer group Snows helps students take the fast lane to a career in the motor trade
Drivers urged to keep ‘essential’ emergency kit in car as heatwave strikes – RAC
The RAC says that drivers should keep an emergency breakdown pack to avoid ‘extremely dangerous’ situations as temperatures soar in the UK.
The breakdown assistance provider says that its patrols have already been dealing with ‘10% more breakdowns’ than they would normally experience on a Tuesday at this point in the summer, and that it also expected demand to ‘increase significantly’ as temperatures continue to climb.
A ‘heat-dome’ settling over western Europe could bring temperatures of up to 40C by the end of today (Wed), with this latest heatwave expected to surpass the record for June set in Hampshire in 1976.
Darren Jones urges Andy Burnham to set out plans as he rules out leadership bid
Senior minister Darren Jones has urged Andy Burnham to set out more of his economic policies after ruling himself out of the race for the Labour leadership.
In an interview with Sky News on Wednesday morning, Mr Jones said he would have had the backing of enough MPs to take on Mr Burnham, but suggested a contest would not give the eventual winner enough time to prepare a budget for the autumn.
Mr Jones said he had had a “reassuring” conversation with Mr Burnham about the Makerfield MP’s economic policy before making his decision.
UK braced for record breaking heat as rare red weather warnings come into force
The UK is braced for record-breaking temperatures, with schools to close and people urged not to travel, as rare red heat weather warnings come into force.
Temperatures could hit 40C over the next two days in some parts of England and Wales as a ‘heat-dome’ settling over western Europe has brought extreme conditions across the continent.
A red weather warning for extreme heat covering an area stretching from London to Swansea and Somerset to Birmingham was issued by the Met Office from 9am on Wednesday to 9pm on Thursday.
