Half-year earnings rise 12.5% at UK’s largest pawnbroker H&T

Company reports growth opportunity as cost of living crisis puts pressure on household finances

The UK's largest pawnbroker has reported a rise in profits as its customers sought to secure small, quick loans against jewellery and watches, in a sign of the continuing strain of the cost of living crisis.

H&T, which has 280 shops in the UK, said pre-tax profits had risen by 12.5% to 9.9m in the first six months of 2024 on the same period a year earlier.