'High street retail freeze-out', 'plunge in sales adds to retailers' woes', 'retailers braced for 'horrible' year' These are just a few of the headlines we've seen this year highlighting the current plight of the British retail industry. By Doug Hargrove

Credit Suisse has increased its forecasts on DSG International following its recent results and is retaining its 'Outperform' recommendation on the company.

Back in 2004 in the pre-recession era Pets at Home was bought by private equity firm Bridgepoint for £230 million, which was widely regarded as being far too rich a price, but fast forward to 2009 and there is an increasingly strong argument to suggest it was anything but. By Glynn Davis

Home Retail Group investors in protest vote over pay at owner of Argos and Homebase, Housing crash is now past its worst,European car sales 'will not recover for five years',Fashion designer George Davies names sites for GIVe chain, 'Consumer advocate' to take on legal action on behalf of ripped-off customers,The car stays in the garage as more drivers see green...

Altium Securities has re-iterated its 'Buy' recommendation on Game Group following its trading update revealed a performance in-line with expectations.

75 per cent of shrinkage losses are attributed to employee and customer theft.Join your peers at the Retail Loss Prevention Summit 2009

Seventy-three per cent of consumers surveyed in the United States, France and Great Britain say that more stringent standards are required before they will trust the security of their credit card transactions.

A series of satirical above-the-line adverts, that poke good-humoured fun at the Aussies ahead of the first Ashes test next month, have been launched by Pedigree brewer Marston's reflecting the true spirit of the historic clash.

Ryman is working with e-inbusiness to develop and deploy its next generation website.

The Association of Convenience Stores has urged caution over Government claims that a national ID card will make a significant difference to the challenge of preventing underage sales.

Game Group has reported a 15.4 per cent drop in like for like sales in the 21 weeks to 27 June.

Vodafone to return to Carphone Warehouse,Blockbusters help Blu-ray sales spin up by 231pc,Recovery may not be sustainable, CBI warns, M&S sees spending stabilising as sales fall less than expected,EU travellers get mobile phone price cut,Kmart offers discounts to jobles,Supermarkets adapt tactics in price wars...

Innovative footwear designer, Angeline Tournier, has been appointed by Start Licensing, top UK licensing agency representing DC Thomson & Company Limited for The Beano and associated characters, to create a limited edition range of Beano cartoon wedges.

Shore Capital has re-iterated its 'Buy' recommendation on ASOS following its preliminary results and subsequent 10% decline in its share price.

Overall group sales rose by 2.9 per cent.

Tesco linked to early sale of Northern Rock,UK economy shrinks at fastest rate for 50 years,Lack of properties props up house valuations,credit insurance hits Threshers,Oxford Street launches world's first high street fashion week,Tesco's treatment of staff overseas comes under fire from trade union,Pirc backs moves to force M&S to split Rose's role...

HMV Group appears somewhat reliant for growing its sales on the death of competitors (Woolworths, Zavvi and Fopp) and to a lesser extent artists (Michael Jackson), which does not exactly bode well for the group's long-term future as there are none of the former left and few musicians with as big a following as the latter. By Glynn Davis, City editor

Investec Securities has re-iterated its 'Sell' recommendation on Carpetright after its preliminary results today (June 30).

Henderson Group, the owner of the Spar, Eurospar, Vivo and Vivoxtra franchises in Northern Ireland, has selected Vodat International to introduce a new network infrastructure to improve communications between stores and head office and meet PCI:DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) standards.

Shop Direct Group is certainly keeping itself busy at the moment. It has just launched the new Woolworths website and on Sunday (July 5) will unveil its overhauled Littlewoods Direct site that will be rebranded as 'Very' and have a focus on younger customers. It will also start selling to other countries from next month. By Glynn Davis, City editor