In the News...

BURBERRY SALES UP

Fashion retailer Burberry has reported a 30% rise in revenues in the past six months, after enjoying strong growth in all of its markets.

Revenues at Burberry - best known for its red, black and camel check design - hit £830m for the six months to 30 September. Comparative retail sales - which ignore new store openings - rose 16%.

Burberry added that its Chinese stores had seen same-store sales growth of 30% in the past six months.

EU CHANGE CAP

The European Union has announced plans to reform its Common Agricultural Policy - its most expensive scheme, and one of the most controversial.

The CAP cost 58bn euros (£51bn; $80bn) last year - 47% of the whole EU budget.

The European Commission does not want to cut the budget, but change its priorities - including linking direct payments to environmental measures. But farming, environmental and taxpayer groups all have their own concerns about the plans.

UK UNEMPLOYMENT HITS 17 YEAR HIGH

UK unemployment rose by 114,000 between June and August to 2.57 million, a 17-year high, according to official figures.

The unemployment total for 16-24 year olds hit a record high of 991,000 in the quarter, a jobless rate of 21.3%.

The number of people out of work and claiming benefits rose 17,500 to 1.6 million in September.


Source: BBC Business News