Debenhams downplayed retail sector concerns that the spike in cotton prices will translate into inflation in clothing prices and a dip in sales yesterday. Flooding in Pakistan and China has sent global cotton prices soaring to a 15-year high in recent weeks, as retailers already face higher transport costs, wage inflation in China and rising VAT in the UK.

Soaring cotton prices threaten to put further pressure on inflation amid a chorus of warnings over the likely impact on price tags.

Very has up to 60 per cent off clothing, jewellery and footwear on its website, as part of the much-hyped "End of Summer" sale. Top-selling items in the sale so far include a Henleys utility bag – down from £20 to £14 – a pair of Goodsouls slouchy beanie hats – down from £12 to £8 – and a Pineapple beach towel, reduced from £10 to just £6. Visit http://ind.pn/cK5oxH for the full range.

Debenhams, the department store, has held discussions about unlocking the value in its property portfolio, as it seeks to generate significant funds to further pay down debt and invest in the business.

Debenhams has completed the refinancing of its debts ahead of schedule by signing a £650m credit facility.

The stock market mounted a comeback last night, with the vehicle and aircraft parts-maker GKN rallying as bargain-hunters moved in to make the most of recent losses.

The serial retail entrepreneur John Kinnaird is trying to launch a new footwear chain just two months after his previous venture, the shoe retailer Faith, collapsed.

Debenhams is considering opening shops in Libya and Morocco, as the department store seeks out new countries to drive its international sales growth.

What kind of National Health Service do you want? We're the rarely-consulted consumers, the front-line fodder for the NHS – but this cash-eating monolith (which gobbles up a sixth of all public spending) appears to operate to please its bureaucrats rather than the patients. The Prime Minister David Cameron has said he will not cut key services, but hasn't decided how much will be allocated to achieve that goal. For starters, £250m will be saved by cutting NHS management, but his ultimate goal is to cut wasteful admin by a third and save up to £20bn. How to do this without compromising health care?

Sniff out a Debenhams deal