New car sales hit 1.95 million in 2024; EVs take 19.6 per cent share; Ford Puma is Britain’s best selling car, Volkswagen is Britain’s favourite car brand

China's car sales maintained their growth pace in 2024 as sales of electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids in the world's largest auto market hit a record high amid a brutal price war and with subsidised trade-ins for greener vehicles driving purchases.

Sales of EVs and plug-in hybrids, known collectively as new energy vehicles (NEVs), rose 40.7% to make up 47.2% of total car sales last year, closing in on a 50% milestone, buoyed by a programme likened to the 2009 US "cash-for-clunkers" stimulus.

Tesco , Britain's biggest supermarket group, kept its full-year profit outlook on Thursday as it reported a 4.1% rise in underlying UK sales for the key Christmas trading period, winning market share from rivals.

Sales were up in its third quarter and over the Christmas season for British supermarket chain Tesco compared to the same period of the previous year. Tesco reported on Thursday that its third quarter retail like-for-like sales excluding value-added tax (VAT) and fuel increased by 2.

Australia retail activity jumped in November, supported by Black Friday sales and widespread discounting ahead of Christmas.

Australian retail sales had the biggest increase in 10 months in November as Black Friday discounting drew cost-conscious shoppers, but even so they missed forecasts suggesting consumer demand remains subdued.

Australian Retailers Association's Chief Industry Officer Fleur Brown discusses the “nice numbers” which have come through on retail spending in November.