The boss of Tesco exuded confidence about the economy yesterday as he claimed shoppers were getting back to treating themselves.

Chief exec Ken Murphy said consumers were “in good shape” and noted sales of its more expensive Finest range had risen by almost 15 per cent in the past six months.

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The boost in sales of upmarket products is a sharp reversal from the trend during the cost-of-living crisis when sales of cheaper budget and own-brand products rocketed.

Mr Murphy said that shoppers had a “willingness to spend a little bit more to treat themselves… While they’re not doing cartwheels down the aisles, they’re in reasonably good shape.”

He acknowledged there was a “lot of uncertainty in the world” but said Tesco was preparing for a strong Christmas.

“We see customer sentiment improving before Christmas,” Mr Murphy said. He added that Tesco was expecting a record-breaking Halloween, with three million pumpkins forecast to be sold at its stores this month.

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His upbeat comments come despite a slew of economic data showing falling consumer confidence as Brits worry about what may be in this month’s Budget.

Mr Murphy’s tone is also at odds with remarks made by Sainsbury’s chief exec Simon Roberts, who a day earlier cautioned that shoppers were holding back on spending due to worries about what Labour will announce.

However, Tesco, Britain’s biggest supermarket chain, is already riding high after boosting its profits by a fifth to £1.9billion on the back of its sales rising by 3.5 per cent to £31.46billion in the half-year.

The boost gives Tesco its highest market share since January 2022. Mr Murphy said its Aldi Price Match and Clubcard promotions had made it more competitive.

Around 23 million British households, 80 per cent of the country, have a Tesco Clubcard.

Plea on electric car VAT

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Private buyers are increasingly choosing diesel cars ahead of electric ones — prompting the motor industry to call for more support in hitting its Net Zero targets.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said private diesel registrations in September were up by 17.2 per cent on last year — an increase of 1,369 units.

That compared with a rise of just 430 pure battery electric registrations — 3.7 per cent — despite huge discounting.

Bosses from Ford, Honda, Kia, Mercedes, Nissan, VW, Jaguar Land Rover and Vauxhall-maker Stellantis have written to Chancellor Rachel Reeves ahead of her October 30 Budget, calling for VAT cuts on electric vehicles and public charging points.

These cost an average of 80p per kilowatt hour — so drivers pay more to recharge electric cars than petrol and diesel drivers do to fill up the tank.

£666m hell of a sale

Investors dumped a devilish £666million worth of UK shares last month, amid fears the Budget could push up capital gains taxes.

Figures from global fund network Calastone show that UK funds were out of favour while other markets saw inflows of cash.

Capital gains tax on shares being sold is currently at 20 per cent but the Chancellor is reportedly considering increasing this to 45 per cent.

Mulberry help

Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group is backing Mulberry’s £10million cash call to investors — just days after having an £83million hostile takeover bid rejected.

Frasers, which owns a 37 per cent stake in the luxury bag brand, will put £3.9million into the share sale to avoid being diluted. It has also not ruled out a further bid offer.

But sources say that is unlikely to be successful, with the company being backed by its majority shareholder Challice, owned by Singaporean billionaire Christina Ong.

Upper Crust owner SSP enjoyed a 9 per cent rise in UK sales in the last three months.

Its railway station shops have benefited from fewer rail strikes while its airport cafes have been boosted by more holidaymakers.

Chat for £118bn

ChatGPT owner OpenAI is now worth £118billion after its latest funding round.

The artificial intelligence firm has raised another £5billion from investors, including tech giant Microsoft and AI chipmaker Nvidia.

Only four companies on London’s FTSE 100 are still worth more. It also has a new £3billion credit facility from big Wall Street banks.

It comes amid speculation that the Californian firm’s boss, Sam Altman, is restructuring the company into a for-profit entity, rather than non-profit.

A beloved pie shop that featured in a Channel 4 show is closing after 50 years of business.

Potts Pies in Lancaster first opened in 1973 and caught the attention of the Hairy Bikers.

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The owner, Donna Crossley, who started working at the shop in 1992, left customers shocked by the news.

“I did not ever think I’d be writing this, but it’s time to hang my apron up,” she wrote in an emotional Facebook post.

“I would like to thank each and every one of you, it’s had his ups and downs, mainly ups.

“It’s not been easy over the last few years as some of you know. I will leave here with my head held high and be proud of what I’ve done,” she added.

Gutted by the news, locals praised Donna and her team.

“End of an era, lots of amazing memories and generations of workers and customers,” one wrote.

“Potts Pies will always have a place in my heart, my grandad used to work there years ago,” said another.

“I would like to wish the new owner all the best and good luck for what you turn it into,” echoed a third.

Donna said the highlight of her time at the shop was the day the late Dave Myers and Si King paid a visit.

Potts Pies was launched by Joe and Vena Potts in 1973 before it was taken over by the Walsh family in 1988.

It expanded and had shops in Morecambe, Toorisholme, Bare and Bolton le-Sands.

The business struggled in the last few years and Donna only employed two staff members who made pies twice a week.

The shop has been sold to new owners, but it’s not known what they plan on doing with the space.

TWO huge chains have already started getting into the festive spirit.

Christmas favourites will be returning to menus at Costa Coffee and Greggs.

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The coffee chain will be serving up their much-loved Terry’s Chocolate Orange Muffin, while Greggs will be dishing out the Sweet Mince pies.

They are following in the footsteps of supermarkets which have already started stocking shelves with festive food.

The wider Christmas menus will be rolled out later in the year.

Costa Coffee

The coffee shop is bringing back it’s own spin on the humble, yet mouthwatering, mince pie.

The Mince Tart is gluten-free and suitable for vegans and looks almost too good to eat.

Adorned with a pastry star and a sprinkle of icing sugar, the slice is the perfect treat to accompany a frothy coffee.

For those who love a classic, the traditional All Butter Mince Pie has also returned to Costa.

The beloved Terry’s Chocolate Orange Muffin is perfect for chocolate lovers, featuring a rich chocolate and orange muffin filled with sauce in the same flavour.

The sweet treat is topped with a Terry’s segment.

Greggs

The best way to kick off the start of the festive season is undoubtedly with a Greggs Sweet Mince Pie, which fans can indulge in from just 65p per pie.

For those looking to spread the festive cheer with their friends and family, a pack of six Sweet Mince Pies is available from only £2.25.

Vegan lovers of Greggs can also savour the festive favourite, as the vegan-friendly recipe consists of a crumbly shortcrust pastry, filled with a sweet mincemeat made from vine fruits, Bramley apple, candied orange and lemon peel.

For those of you who aren’t quite ready for Christmas just yet, Greggs has launched its Halloween range.

Fans can enjoy the festive and Halloween feels with a Sweet and Hot Drink Deal, pairing one of the new sweet menu items with a hot drink from just £2.85.

The new Pumpkin biscuit, a ginger biscuit coated in Fairtrade milk chocolate, is available from just £1.25.

The Spooky Bun, a vanilla flavour fairy bun dipped in fondant icing and topped with spine-chilling sugar decorations is also available from only £1.00.

For Greggs fans organising feasts for friends and family this Halloween, the Spooky Bun is also available as a pack of four from £3.15.

This comes after Sainsbury’s shoppers were shocked to find mince pies on sale in early September.

The gobsmacked customer wrote in the caption: “Stock up on your mince pies (take in Sainsbury’s a few days ago, so it was actually August!!!!).”

Another shopper who stumbled upon the Christmas treats in the major supermarket also took to X, and wrote: “On Sept 1 I walked into my local Sainsbury and what did I see on the shelves?

Tesco’s Christmas range has been slowly making its way into supermarkets and, with the festive season now on the horizon with under 100 days to go, the goods will soon be available at all of its 4,000 branches.

ASDA also unveiled its Christmas menu and customers can snap up spiced rum mince pies and parmesan and truffle pigs in blankets.

For the first time ever, Asda has launched its first signature flavour – brown butter and spiced dark rum.

The flavour runs through a number of the festive food items ,including brown butter and spice dark rum mince pies and a slow cooked turkey with dark rum and brown butter stuffing.

There’s something for all palates and preferences too, with 57 new vegan and 35 new free from products included in the range.

Customers will be able to pick up no-meat turkeys, mushroom pigs in blankets and smoky aubergine bacon.

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MCDONALD’S has confirmed it is bringing back an iconic burger that hasn’t been seen in the UK for almost a decade – and fans will be delighted.

Social media has been awash with rumours over the past few weeks that the much-loved McRib was making a shock comeback.

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And now, the fast food chain has revealed the legendary burger will indeed be back on sale in just days for the first time since early 2015.

The menu item will be available across UK restaurants from October 16, just over a week away, for a limited time only.

The burger, which combines a pork patty with tangy barbecue sauce, pickles and onions, will be on sale for £4.49 as an individual item or £6.19 as part of a medium extra value meal.

The burger itself contains 509 calories.

Customers have long begged for the McRib, which first launched in the UK in 1981, to return to menus after it was abruptly removed almost a decade ago.

Thomas O’Neill, head of menu at McDonald’s UK, said: “We have heard our fans loud and clear – the fan petitions and pleas on social – and after almost a decade of anticipation, we are thrilled to bring back this iconic menu item.

“Knowing how well-loved the McRib is, we had very little choice – we had to make it happen.”

It comes after a mystery message appeared on dozens of McDonald’s customers MyMcDonald’s apps with a glitch that appeared to signify the McRib was returning.

Fast food fans took to X and Facebook two weeks ago sharing images that showed “page not found” and “McRib Test Notification” error messages that had cropped up on their phones.

Posting on X, one said: ” “Ummm excuse me McDonald’s, we all saw it. THE MCRIB IS COMING BACK!”

Another commented: “McDonald’s thought they could sneak this one by and I wouldn’t notice. McRib coming to the UK.”

Another said “McDonald’s just let everyone in the UK know the McRib is coming back with a broken text notification”, to which a fellow fan replied: “This isn’t an accident, it’s a marketing ploy. Rather clever!”

OTHER MCDONALD’S MENU CHANGES

McDonald’s regularly shakes up its menu or introduces games to keep customers on their toes.

The fast food chain recently announced it is adding mini hashbrowns to menus for the first time.

Customers will be able to get the twist on a classic menu item across more than 1,300 UK restaurants from October 16 – the same date the McRib is being relaunched.

Foodies can pick up a five-pack for £1.49 while a 15-piece sharebox will cost £2.99.

Remember though that prices do vary from restaurant to restaurant so you could pay more or less than these prices.

It is not yet clear whether the hashbrowns will become a permanent menu item, so if you want to give them a go, make sure you’re quick.

Six menu items will also be removed later this month when the McDonald’s Monopoly game comes to a close.

These are the six items that customers will have to wave goodbye to:

• Philly Cheese Stack
• Chicken Big Mac
• Mozzarella Dippers
• Galaxy Chocolate McFlurry
• Twix Caramel McFlurry
• Twix Latte

If you are curious about how the game works and what prizes you can win, read our article here. 

It is worth bearing in mind that McDonald’s regularly updates its menu,  so it is always worth reading updates online to avoid missing out.

The chain regularly posts on social media informing customers of any upcoming changes.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.

Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories

A DISCOUNT clothing chain store is set to close down despite 160 objections.

An Original Factory Shop in Ben Rhydding will close down on October 19, to make way for a controversial new development.

A drive thru coffee shop will instead be built on the corner of the A65 and Wheatley lane, after it was approved in August.

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The move has been criticised by locals, with more than with more than 160 people writing to Bradford Council urging the plans be refused, according to The Telegraph and Argus.

A further 61 people signing a petition against the application, which was submitted by The EG Group Ltd and Burley Developments Ltd.

It is currently not known which change will be moving on to the site, however EG Group, founded by the billionaire Issa brothers, operates other sites that include Starbucks, Greggs, and Krispy Kreme.

In a post on its Facebook page this week, the Original Factory Shop, Ilkley said: “We are sorry to let you know our store will close it’s doors on 19th October 2024.

They added: “We take this opportunity to thank all of the local community and our store colleagues for their support throughout our time here in Ilkley.”

Original Factory Shop has close to 200 stores located around the UK.

The sad news comes amid a wave of store closures across the UK.

Retailers are being squeezed by spiralling rents and mortgage rates as well as spikes in running costs.

That, combined with the rapid march towards online shopping as the dominant model in the sector, is leaving physical stores on the brink.

An outdoor clothing chain has also launched a huge closing down sale as Trespass closes its store in Coventry.

The activewear brand employs more than 1,500 people in the UK but has shut around half a dozen stores this year.

The date of the closure was not specified at the time, but local media reported that the shutters came down for the last time on September 13.

Retail woes

Other retailers, such as Homebase, Boots, and Clarks, have been reducing the number of their high-street branches.

Rising rents, energy bills, and the cost of living have also caused many retailers to fail.

Several big retailers have fallen into administration in the past year, including Wilko, Paperchase, and most recently, The Body Shop and Ted Baker.

The Body Shop collapsed into administration on February 13, putting its almost 198 branches at risk of closure.

Since then, it has closed down 82 locations.

CLIMBING the career ladder is tough enough but when you’re working class, it can be even harder.

According to the Government’s Social Mobility Commission, adults with working-class parents are three times as likely to be in a working-class occupation compared to people with professional parents.

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Despite 48 per cent of UK adults considering themselves to be working class, half of big-name firms do not actively seek out working-class talent — but for those who do, the rewards can be exceptional.

When a person works their way up to have a higher income or higher status of job than their parents, it’s known as “upward social mobility”.

According to campaign group the Sutton Trust, enhancing social mobility within UK firms to match the average Western European level could lead to a nine per cent boost in GDP, equivalent to £2,620 per person, or a total of £170billion added to the UK economy annually.

This week sees the annual SOMO Awards — known as the UK’s “social mobility Oscars” — which celebrate employers helping working-class people fulfil their career potential.

Set up by charity Making The Leap, this year the awards cover firms employing close to 1.3million people representing 20 business sectors.

While finance, law and professional services make up almost half of entries, there has been a big rise in submissions from the creative and media sectors, plus local authority and Government.

Londoner Kevin Sterling faced dozens of job rejections until he signed up for Making The Leap’s social mobility programme.

Kevin, 23, now works as an engineer for Sky, and says: “Before taking the course, it felt like I was stuck in limbo with no end in sight, and got rejection after rejection. I was at my wits’ end.

“With Making The Leap I took part in activities including networking and mock interviews, which really helped, and I learned how to evaluate myself.

“I’d always been focused on the future, never taking the time to reflect on how far I’ve come, what I’m lacking, and how I can turn my weaknesses into strengths.”

Tunde Banjoko, from Making The Leap, said: “By adopting social mobility initiatives, organisations demonstrate to their staff and customers that they are committed to creating an inclusive workplace while helping to unlock the full potential of talent from all walks of life in society.”

Firms including Sky, Linklaters, Nationwide, KPMG and PWC have all entered and the awards are open to organisations of all sizes.

A Nationwide spokeswoman said: “We believe the circumstances of a person’s birth shouldn’t determine their outcomes in life. We are dedicated to equitable progression.”

Find out more at somo.uk

TIPS FOR CAREER YOU WANT

COMPETITION to secure a job is at its fiercest in three years, so how to stand out?

Here Jan Hendrik von Ahlen, from Jobleads.com, shares his tips on securing the job you want.

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Network, Network, Network: Successful networking is all about building relationships.

Reach out to people in your field with a simple message, like asking for advice or sharing something interesting. Be authentic, follow up, stay in touch and help when you can.

Join a club: Many UK cities have networking groups and business clubs. Chamber of Commerce groups and Business Network International also host events.

These gatherings are great for building connections.

Customise Applications: Read the job description thoroughly and focus on skills and experiences that match what the employer is after.

If you have limited experience, showcase your transferable skills on your CV.

Build a professional Online Presence: Make sure your LinkedIn profile is up to date with your skills, experiences, and career goals and follow industry trends.

Keep Learning: The job market is always changing, so keep your skills up to date. Take online courses and attend workshops. Showing potential employers you’re committed to growth can make you a more attractive candidate.

Stay Positive, Be Persistent: Every rejection is a step closer to the right opportunity. Keep applying, and don’t be afraid to ask for feedback. Persistence will pay off in the end.

OCTOBER BLUES?

FORGET the January blues, October is the month when we are ill the most.

Figures from BrightHR show while one third of all sickness occurs in the last three months of the year, it’s October when staff most frequently call in sick.

Typically, October illness rates are 122 per cent above the monthly average, with a 157 per cent spike in flu cases and 164 per cent leap in common cold cases. Mental health-related absences rise by 112 per cent, the highest of any month.

Alan Price, chief executive at BrightHR, said: “Encouraging a culture of openness where employees feel comfortable discussing their health, and reminding employees of any support in place . . . can also make a significant difference.”