Economy
The latest news, updates and analysis on the economy and how it is affecting the UK retail industry. Sign up to the Daily Briefing and let Retail Sector’s business journalists keep you in the picture.
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Jun- 2023 -22 June
BoE raises interest rate to 15-year high
The Bank of England (BoE) has raised interest rates for the 13th consecutive time to 5%, the highest level in 15 years, after it was revealed that inflation remained at 8.7% in May. The BoE’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted by a majority of 7-2 to increase the rate by…
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21 June
Inflation fails to fall in May
Inflation in the UK remained unchanged at 8.7% in the year to May, dashing hopes that prices would continue to fall. According to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) rising prices for air travel, recreational and cultural goods and services, and second-hand cars resulted in the…
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7 June
UK consumers feeling cost-of-living more than EU counterparts, EY finds
Cost-of-living pressures have affected UK consumers more than their European counterparts, according to the latest EY UK Future Consumer Index. The 12th edition of EY’s survey of 1,000 UK consumers found that 62% of UK consumers say they are “extremely concerned” by the cost-of-living squeeze, compared with 50% in the…
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May- 2023 -24 May
Inflation falls to 8.7% in April
Inflation has fallen to 8.7% in April, marking the first time it has been in single digits since last summer, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics. Inflation was down from 10.1% in March 2023 and increased by 1.2% in April 2023, compared with a rise…
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16 May
Unemployment rises to 3.9%
The unemployment rate for January to March 2023 increased by 0.1 percentage points during the first quarter to 3.9% amid a surge in those not working due to ill health, according to the latest statistics from the Office For National Statistics (ONS). The ONS also found that the UK employment…
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12 May
UK economy shrinks 0.3% in March
Monthly real gross domestic product (GDP) is estimated to have fallen by 0.3% in March 2023, after showing no growth in February 2023, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Looking at the broader picture, the ONS said GDP grew by 0.1% in the three…
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11 May
BoE raises interest rate for 12th time to 4.5%
The Bank of England (BoE) has raised interest rates for the 12th consecutive time to 4.5%, up from 4.25%. The BoE’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted by a majority of 7-2 to increase the rate by 0.25% in a bid to meet the 2% inflation target. The committee said it…
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Apr- 2023 -24 April
Retail profit warnings fall to lowest level since 2020
UK-listed retailers issued five profit warnings in Q1 2023, marking a decrease from the nine issued in both Q4 2022 and Q1 2022, according to the latest data from EY. Despite representing the sector’s lowest quarterly total since Q4 2020, it said “persistent inflation, high interest rates and tightening consumer…
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21 April
Poor weather sees retail sales fall 0.9% in March
Retail sales in the UK fell 0.9% in March according to latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Some of this fall can be attributed to the poor weather in March following a 1.1% rise in February. Furthermore, non-food stores sales volumes fell by 1.3% in March 2023,…
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19 April
Inflation remains above 10% in March
Despite easing slightly, inflation remained above 10% in March thanks to food and drink costs reaching a 45-year high, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The ONS found that the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) rose by 10.1% in the 12 months to March 2023,…
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