Coronavirus
Coronavirus covers the ongoing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the UK retail industry. This section explores how retailers have adapted to shifts in consumer behaviour, operational disruption, and regulatory change. Retail Sector’s Coronavirus coverage includes news, analysis, and commentary on supply chain challenges, workforce management, financial recovery, and digital transformation, providing retail professionals with insight into how the sector continues to rebuild and evolve in the wake of the pandemic.
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Dec- 2020 -18 December
Retail sales down 3.8% in November
Retail sales in November were down 3.8% compared to the previous month, according to the latest figures published by the ONS. The office reported that the decline in sales was a result of many stores’ decisions to cease trading following government guidance during the coronavirus pandemic. Figures show that in…
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17 December
Furlough scheme extended until April 2021
The furlough scheme has been extended until the end of April 2021 with the government continuing to contribute 80% towards wages to employee’s pay, Chancellor Rishi Sunak has confirmed today (17 December). The government will also extend current government-guaranteed Covid-19 business loan schemes until the end of March. This includes…
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17 December
Restrictions widen as millions enter Tier 3
UK government officials have announced that the majority of the South East and East of England will enter Tier 3 this weekend, as coronavirus cases continue to rise in many parts of the country. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said that the increased restrictions were necessary in order to control the…
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17 December
Non-essential retail to close in Wales
The First Minister of Wales has confirmed that the country will move to alert level four amid rising Covid-19 cases, with all non-essential retail ordered to close at the end of trading on Christmas Eve. Close contact services and all leisure and fitness centres will also close on 24 December,…
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4 December
Co-op members urge company to return rates relief
The Co-op Group is reportedly being urged by its members to reverse its decision not to repay the millions of pounds it has received in rates relief this year. According to Sky News, some of its National Members Council believe that due to the £150m it has generated from the…
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1 December
Footfall surges for second week thanks to Black Friday
Footfall on Black Friday increased by 8.7%, helping to mark the first time since late August that the figures have increased in two consecutive weeks, according to the latest data from Springboard. The data shows that footfall in the UK rose by 4.8% across all retail destinations last week, which…
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Nov- 2020 -30 November
Shops permitted to open for 24 hours a day
Shops in England will be allowed to trade for 24 hours a day in the coming weeks, housing secretary Robert Jenrick has confirmed. The relaxation of trading hours has been made in a bid to support struggling businesses in the run-up to Christmas. Writing in The Telegraph, Jenrick said: “None…
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30 November
Arcadia collapse could throw JD’s Debenhams takeover into doubt
A potential collapse at its largest concession holder Arcadia could reportedly throw the takeover of Debenhams by JD Sports into doubt. According to the Sunday Times, JD’s board were due to confirm whether they were going to go through with the acquisition by the end of last week (27 November)…
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26 November
New Tier system announced
The Government has announced a new Tier system for when England leaves lockdown on 2 December, with only areas in Tier 1 allowed to revert back to the ‘rule of six’. Making the announcement to the House of Commons, health secretary Matt Hancock revealed that the new Tier 3 restrictions…
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25 November
Retail to stabilise as restrictions ease, says CBI
The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has suggested that retail sales are set to stabilise as lockdown restrictions begin to ease. Although retail sales volumes fell in the year to November, overall retail sales volumes fell at a similar pace to the previous month, according to the latest CBI quarterly…
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