Consumer Confidence
This coverage explores trends and insights into consumer confidence and their impact on the UK retail sector. Reporting includes survey data, economic indicators, shopper sentiment, and analysis of how confidence levels influence spending patterns, sales performance, and strategic planning. Designed for retail executives and managers, it provides context for understanding demand fluctuations and preparing for market challenges.
-
Apr- 2018 -6 AprilEconomy
UK retail sees second worst month on record for in-store sales
Like-for-like (LFL) in-store sales were down by 10.1% in the month of March, making it the second worst figures on record for UK retail. BDO’s High Street Sales Tracker report said the poor sales was largely attributed to the snowy weather. According to the business advisory firm’s records, the only…
Read More » -
3 AprilEconomy
21,000 retail jobs lost or threatened so far this year
Over 21,000 jobs have been axed or put at risk in the first three months of the year as retailers struggle to break even. A Press Association analysis revealed that 21,413 staff members have already been made redundant or had their role threatened, with the majority being from large high-street…
Read More » -
Mar- 2018 -29 MarchHigh Street
‘Beast from the East’ chills retail sales
Year-on-year sales volumes declined for the first time since October 2017, according to CBI’s latest monthly Distributive Trades Survey. Additionally, sales for the time of year were significantly below normal, and by the greatest extent since April 2013. The volume of orders placed with suppliers, meanwhile, was broadly unchanged. Sales…
Read More » -
7 MarchClothing & Shoes
New Look announces CVA proposal, 980 staff at risk
Clothing chain New Look has announced company voluntary agreement (CVA) proposal that will look to close up to 60 stores, reduce rental costs and potentially make up to 980 staff members redundant. Under the proposal, the fashion retailer has identified 60 out of its total 593 stores in the UK…
Read More » -
6 MarchHigh Street
Grocery purchases drive UK retail sales: BRC
Food sales continue to drive up sales in the retail sector, but non-food retailers suffered a fall in spending. Over three months to February in-store sales of non-food items declined by 2.4% on a total basis, and 3.3% on a like-for-like basis, according to figures released today by the British…
Read More » -
Feb- 2018 -6 FebruaryEconomy
Consumer spending grows 3.9% in January
Consumer spending increased 3.9% in January, partially driven by price increases that continued to drive uplifts in ‘essential’ spending. That is according to data from Barclaycard, which processes nearly half of the nation’s credit and debit card transactions. Spending growth on day-to-day necessities surpassed 4% for the first time in…
Read More » -
Jan- 2018 -19 JanuaryEconomy
Carpetright shares crash 41.9% amid profit warning
Specialist carpet retailer Carpetright has issued another profit warning prompting shares to fall by 41.9%, at the time of writing. Analysts expected profit figures of £15.6m for the year, but the firm revised its full-year profit guidance to between £2m to £6m. Sales for the post-Christmas period were significantly behind…
Read More » -
9 JanuaryEconomy
Retail administrations increase in five-year-first
The number of retailers entering administration increased from 92 in 2016 to 118 in 2017, an increase of 28 percent, according to new analysis from Deloitte. This is the first increase in the last five years, as those administrations with more than ten stores rose from 11 in 2016 to…
Read More » -
5 JanuaryEconomy
Christmas discounts push shop price deflation to 9-month high
Shop prices in December fell at their fastest rate for nine months, having previously been “teetering on the edge of inflation,” according to new figures. The latest British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Nielsen Shop Price Index showed overall shop prices dropped 0.6% cent in December compared with the same month…
Read More » -
Nov- 2017 -21 NovemberEconomy
Online retail growth lower than average in pre-Black Friday lull
Despite showing a year-on-year growth of 12.6%, online retail sales figures in October were lower than average suggesting a pre-Black Friday lull. According to the latest figures from the IMRG Capgemini e-Retail Sales Index, this was lower than both the average YoY growth rate of 14.3% for the last 3…
Read More »