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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Jan- 2019 -10 JanuaryEconomy
Worst Christmas for retail in a decade, says the BRC
The retail sector has seen its worst Christmas performance in 10 years, despite a number of businesses reporting positive trading for the period. According to the British Retail Consortium (BRC), over the festive period retail sales growth was at 0% for the first time in 28 months as “squeezed customers”…
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4 JanuaryComment
Carnage on the shop floor
The pressure on the retail sector has been a consistent staple for investors since the end of the financial crisis, partly as a result of changing shopping habits but also down to rising costs and outdated business models. This has been no better illustrated by the way UK consumers behaved…
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3 JanuaryAnalysis
Why the profit warning from ASOS has added to the retail gloom
Retailers are hoping for a busy New Year period following a very tough year of trading. Much of the current market analysis and speculation has placed the blame for a host of high-street insolvencies on a rise in online shopping and skyrocketing rents for stores. However, the recent news that…
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3 JanuaryClothing & Shoes
Next Christmas sales boosted by online surge
Next has revealed better than expected results over the Christmas period despite a 9.2% decline in sales across its bricks-and-mortar stores. However the decline was better than the 13% drop that was forecast by analysts and overall Next reported a 1% rise in full product sales between 28 October to…
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Dec- 2018 -21 DecemberHigh Street
December consumer confidence ends 2018 on five-year low
GfK’s long-running Consumer Confidence Index decreased by one point in December 2018 to -14. The measure for the general economic situation of the country during the last 12 months also dropped by two points to -31 this month, the same level as December 2017, and expectations for the next 12…
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21 DecemberEconomy
London’s West End to receive £186m pre-Christmas boost
Shoppers visiting London’s West End are expected to spend £186m in the final three days before Christmas, according to New West End Company, who represent over 600 retailers, hoteliers and property owners in the region. During these final three days more discounts and promotions will be on offer, including up…
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18 DecemberEconomy
Consumer spending drags for second month in a row
Consumer spending has dropped by 0.7% in November, the second month of decline following the 0.2% drop in October according to Visa’s UK Consumer Spending Index. Expenditure also struggled to maintain growth momentum in 2018 to date, with spending falling in seven of the 11 months of the year so…
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13 DecemberClothing & Shoes
Bonmarché shares halve amid second profit warning
Shares in fashion retailer Bonmarché halved this morning (13 December) from 81 pence to 47 pence after announcing it expects losses of £4m for the current financial year. The group blamed the “uncertainty surrounding Brexit” as a significant factor affecting demand, and expects like-for-like sales for Q3 to drop by…
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10 DecemberHigh Street
Footfall struggles to keep up in November
Footfall in November fell by 3.2%, a significant decline on the previous year when it grew by 0.2%, according to new figures from Springboard. According to the research, it is the twelfth month of consecutive decline, and the group added that the numbers illustrate the ‘Black Friday’ effect of driving…
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7 DecemberClothing & Shoes
Primark owner warns ‘trading was challenging’ for November
Primark owner, Associated British Foods has warned that trading for November was “challenging” for the clothing retailer. The group’s chairman, Michael McLintock, will say at its AGM today that a “tough retail market” was to blame for a challenging month. Trading was “in line with expectations” for the first eight…
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