Chain reports 18% rise in profits but says outlook clouded by declining vacancies and rising tax burden
Bosses at clothing and homeware chain Next are forecasting “anaemic growth” across the UK, as the retailer claimed regulation, government spending, and higher taxes would hurt jobs and productivity.
The FTSE 100 company, which is headed by the Conservative peer Simon Wolfson, said that while it did not believe the economy was heading towards a “cliff edge” the weakening outlook gave the company “another reason to be cautious”.