THE DAILY BRIEFING

SHOPPING SLUMP

Consumer confidence fell back to its long-term average this month, according to a survey by market research firm gfK. The dip follows a slight improvement in March. However, confidence is up over the past three months.

LENDING LEAPS

Commercial property lending in Britain jumped at the end of last year following a drop earlier in 2017, Cass Business

School research shows. It means that £44.5bn was lent for property deals over the full 12 months, equalling figures for 2016.

PRICES UP

House prices climbed by 0.2pc in April, Nationwide’s longrunning index reveals. It means they have grown by 2.6pc since April last year, and the average price now stands at £213,000.

OFFICE TEST

A test version of Office 2019, Microsoft’s next major software product, has been unveiled. The trial has been made available to businesses with the internet firm targeting firms who do not use its cloud-based services.

WEBSITE DEAL

US website making firm Weebly has been snapped up for £265m by mobile payments company Square, run by Jack Dorsey, the co-founder of Twitter.

JOBS DELIVERED

Delivery firm DpD is creating 700 jobs in response to a 40pc surge in demand for nextday deliveries. In addition to the part-time weekend delivery jobs, it will create 100 warehouse roles.

AIR OFFICER

Aviation services firm air p artner has appointed Chris Mann as interim chief financial officer after a £4m black hole was exposed in its accounts. Mann, who has worked at Gatwick Airport, replaces Neil Morris who quit following the accounting fiasco.

PET BOSS

Peter Pritchard has started as chief executive of pets at

home. Formerly boss of the store group’s retail arm, he takes over from Ian Kellett, who will remain until May 31 to complete the handover.