Here are the business stories making the headlines across the country this morning.
Bank of England keeps interest rate at 5.25% but cut moves closer
The Bank of England has held interest rates at 5.25% for a fifth consecutive time, but says the prospects for a cut are now "moving in the right direction".
The nine-member rate-setting committee continued to collectively judge it was too early to contemplate a downwards move, despite further progress in taming inflation revealed earlier this week.
However, two members who had previously voted for a rate hike dropped that view.
It meant that eight of the nine supported no change while one other member Swati Dhingra backed, for the second meeting in a row, a reduction to 5%.
Wet weather dampens February shop sales
Shop sales saw zero growth in February as wet weather and cost-of-living pressures kept people at home.
While clothing sales increased, this was offset by falling food and fuel sales, according to official figures.
February's flat sales came after a lacklustre December followed by a strong bounce bank in January.
Although food price rises eased in February, people remained under pressure as a result of housing costs and fuel prices.
Next hails best ever revenue and profit
Next has beaten profit expectations after it cleared more sale stock than expected in January.
Group profit before tax at the clothing and homeware chain rose to a record high of £918m last year, up 5% from £875m the year before and £3m ahead of guidance given in January.
The FTSE 100 retailer posted statutory profits of £1bn, owing to a £109m exceptional, non-cash, accounting gain from the acquisition of the premium fashion brand Reiss. Total group sales rose 5.9% to £5.8bn in the year to the end of January and full-price sales increased by 4%.
The retailer said last year had been “much better than we anticipated at this time last year, and the group has delivered its highest ever levels of revenue and profit”.
Issa brothers rip out EV charging points at Asda in blow for shoppers
The billionaire Issa brothers have ripped out electric car charging points across Asda stores in a blow to customers who want to plug in their vehicles while they shop.
New figures from the RAC reveal that Asda has slashed the number of electric vehicle chargers at its supermarkets by more than two thirds to just 46 devices over the past year. It had 165 devices at the start of 2023.
The reduction comes after the supermarket ended a partnership with electric vehicle (EV) charging company BP Pulse. Asda now has EV chargers on just 2pc of its estates, or 22 shops.
Asda is the only supermarket to have slashed the number of charging points it has, with others including Tesco and Morrisons investing heavily in the technology.