Brexit
This coverage examines the impact of Brexit on the UK retail sector, with reporting on trade agreements, tariffs, supply chain disruptions, labour market changes, and regulatory adjustments. Insights are tailored to retail managers and executives assessing how post-Brexit developments shape operations, costs, and strategic planning within the industry.
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Dec- 2019 -9 DecemberBusiness Bites
The Lib Dems want to abolish business rates, but don’t hold your breath
Over the weekend the leader of the Lib Dems, Jo Swinson, visited Hertforshire to discuss her party’s approach to SMEs. The timing was important: it was Small Business Saturday, an idea imported from the United States, the purpose of which is to promote buying local, and to draw attention to…
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3 DecemberHigh Street
Black Friday boosts consumer spending in November
UK retail sales grew in the month of November, according to the latest report from the British Retail Consortium (BRC). When factoring in Black Friday, like-for-like sales grew by 0.9%, up from a decline of 4.9% when excluding the sales event from monthly figures. For the period of 27 October…
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3 DecemberHigh Street
Black Friday footfall up 3.3%
Black Friday footfall rose by 3.3% year-on-year according to the latest figures from Springboard. The Retail intelligence experts found that shopper numbers increased in all three destination types with shopping centres faring the best with an increase in footfall of +6.5% as shoppers looked to make the most of the…
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Nov- 2019 -29 NovemberEconomy
Consumer confidence ‘flatlines’ in November, claims GfK
GfK’s Consumer Confidence Index has revealed a ‘flatline’ in consumer confidence. Consumer confidence in November was ranked at -14, the same ranking that was reported the month prior. Joe Staton, client strategy director at GfK, said: “In the face of Brexit and election uncertainty, consumers are clearly in a ‘wait-and-see’…
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27 NovemberHigh Street
Shop prices fall for sixth consecutive month
Shop prices fell for the sixth consecutive month, according to the November BRC-Nielsen Shop Price Index. Overall prices fell by 0.5% year-on-year compared with a 0.4% price decrease in October. Non-food item prices also decreased by 1.6% year-on-year. Meanwhile, food item prices increased 1.4% year-on-year, reflecting an ease in inflation…
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27 NovemberDIY
SCS reports sales slump
Furnishings retailer SCS has reported a fall in like-for-like sales amid “growing political uncertainty”. In the 17 week period ended 23 November, like-for-like sales fell by 7.1%. Meanwhile, overall like-for-like sales fell by 4% in a two-year period. The company said this was an “improvement” on the like-for-like trading in…
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18 NovemberEconomy
Conservatives pledge business rates review
The Conservative Party has pledged a business rates review which aims to “reduce the burden” on UK businesses, as part of its election campaign. It said business rates are one of the “top concerns” of British businesses, and added that a Conservative majority Government will launch a “fundamental review” at…
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15 NovemberAnalysis
Is Boris sticking two fingers up at the Treasury Select Committee on Business Rates?
The worst fears from those who have read and welcomed the recent Treasury Select Committee report into business rates- that the next Government could well ignore them,- seem to be borne out by the latest Conservative party announcements on the “broken” business rates issue. Announcements last night from the Conservatives…
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15 NovemberEconomy
Boris Johnson pledges to invest in ‘left behind’ communities if Tories win
The Conservative party has proposed to reduce business rates for smaller businesses, in order to support “left-behind” towns, if they win the general election. The plans would offer support to businesses and the community, to keep the high streets open for business, save pubs and post offices, reconnect towns and…
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13 NovemberAdvice
A festive general election: how will retailers survive Christmas 2019?
For retailers, the closer it gets to Christmas, the more political uncertainty there is leading to dwindling consumer confidence and irrefutable anticipation of poor festive sales. After a year of struggle for retailers across the country and more odds against them, how can this festive season be the most profitable…
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