Chips opens tenth store

INDEPENDENT video games specialist Chips opened its tenth store today. The Middlesbrough business, which has franchises across the UK, opened the store in Norwich. It is run by franchisee Keith Foster, who has completed an intensive training course at the Teesside headquarters.Chips joint managing director Nik Agar said: "Keith is exactly the kind of franchisee we are looking for. He has great enthusiasm and is willing to work hard in this fun and very challenging business."

INFLATION UP: A rise in the cost of motoring helped nudge up inflation last month. According to the Office for National Statistics, underlying inflation rose by 0.1 per cent in March to 2.3 per cent. The headline rate, which includes mortgage interest payments, was ahead 0.3 per cent at 1.3 per cent. Price rises for household goods and services as well as leisure goods and services added to the increase.

MOBILE DEAL: Mobile phone operator mmO2 has continued to prepare for the launch of its next generation services by signing deals with Nortel Networks and Nokia. Both telecom firms will provide equipment to carry voice and data over a new broadband network in the UK, Ireland, Germany and the Netherlands.

CLINTON EXPANDS: Clinton Cards has stepped up its expansion plans after seeing sales bounce back from a bad performance at Christmas. Like-for-like growth across the greeting cards group has improved to 5.5 per cent in recent weeks from just 1.5 per cent over the festive period. Clinton Cards hopes to have 800 stores in place by 2006, up from the current 672, and could hit 1,000 by the end of 2010.

pension CALL: Nearly two-thirds of Britons think it should be made compulsory for workers to contribute to a company pension scheme, research carried out for insurer Prudential found. People living in the North-East are among those most likely to support compulsory pension payments, with seven out of ten people supporting the move.

BUDGET BLUES: Chartered accountants Howarth Clark Whitehill will be providing an online explanation of the Budget tomorrow. Tax partner Sharon Adams will be answering questions in an online seminar on the website www.eb4b.co.uk