FIGURES on inflation and unemployment will give the latest snapshot of the UK economy, while updates are also due this week from retailer Sports Direct and pubs group JD Wetherspoon.

The parent group of Sports World reports finals on Thursday, but its trading performance has been overshadowed in recent days by a row with rival JJB.

It emerged last week that Sports Direct International’s billionaire founder and Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley lent £1.5m to JJB boss Sir David Jones – a discovery that has caused conflict of interest concerns, as well as great embarrassment to JJB.

While JJB claim the loan was made before Sir David’s appointment to the board in 2007, it was made in the same month that he took up the post of non-executive director.

The issue has distracted from major news from both parties – that JJB is considering tapping shareholders for cash in a rights issue, while Sports Direct is reportedly planning to scrap its dividend.

Sports Direct is said to be preparing to announce alongside its final results that the dividend will be axed to save about £21m a year and pay down debt.

Despite recent rises in total sales annual underlying earnings are expected to have fallen from £150.2m to £135m.

Telecoms group Cable & Wireless will face shareholders at its annual meeting on Friday amid corporate governance concerns over changes to its long-term incentive scheme.

The Association of British Insurers (ABI), which represents close to a fifth of UK shareholders, has issued a “red top” warning – its most serious alert – on announced changes to the group’s longterm incentive scheme.

■ Companies reporting results this week include: Today, trading update – Dunelm, Experian; Tomorrow, AGMs – British Airways; Wednesday, trading updates – Blacks Leisure (AGM), JD Wetherspoon, Land Securities, Northern Foods (AGM).