Disposable Income
This coverage analyses how changes in disposable income influence UK retail performance and consumer behaviour. Reporting explores economic indicators, spending patterns, affordability challenges, and their impact on retail sales, pricing strategies, and category performance. Designed for professionals assessing market conditions, forecasting demand, and shaping strategies in response to household financial trends.
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Jan- 2022 -28 JanuaryHigh Street
Store vacancy rate improves for first time since 2018
New research has found the number of vacant stores has decreased for the first time since 2018, according to the latest BRC-LDC Vacancy Monitor. In Q4, the GB store vacancy rate fell to 14.4%, 0.1 percentage points below the Q3 level. Shopping Centre vacancies improved to 19.1% for Q4, a…
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Jul- 2021 -30 JulyHigh Street
One in seven UK shops still remain vacant, BRC reveals
More than one in seven shops on UK high streets, retail parks and shopping centres are currently vacant, according to the latest data from the Local Data Company and the British Retail Consortium (BRC). The data revealed that fashion stores were amongst the “hardest hit” as customers primarily shifted to…
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May- 2021 -25 MayEconomy
Family spending power reaches 11-year high
The average family disposable income in the UK has reached an 11-year high, according to Asda’s latest Income Tracker. Income increased by 13.1% year-on-year in March, representing a weekly income rise of £28 for each household. London saw the smallest annual growth with a rise of 8%, while disposable incomes…
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Feb- 2021 -1 FebruaryCoronavirus
New lockdowns edge consumer confidence to near-record low
The final quarter of 2020 saw consumer confidence fall by 1%, to a near-record low -17%, according to the latest Deloitte Consumer Tracker. It found with the exception of personal finances, all other measures of confidence were below year-on-year comparisons, with ‘health and wellbeing’, and ‘children’s education and welfare’ categories…
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Aug- 2020 -11 AugustCoronavirus
Retail sales rise for second month in a row
Total sales increased by 3.2% in July, against an increase of 0.5% in July 2019, marking the second consecutive month of growth since the start of the pandemic. According to the latest BRC-KPMG retail sales monitor, UK retail sales increased by 4.3% in the month against the year prior, following…
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Jun- 2020 -11 JuneComment
Retail experience will never be the same
While COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on the UK’s retail sector, it should not come as a surprise to see the high street in peril. Even prior to the outbreak, retailers had endured a torrid twelve months – a poor Christmas period had led into a traditionally weaker opening…
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Apr- 2020 -14 AprilComment
How cashierless technology can impact loyalty for retailers
“We’re just getting started here”, said Cameron James, VP of Amazon’s physical retail division. “I think what we’re trying to do here — and with all of our physical stores — is really work backwards from the customer and deliver some differentiation.” James was speaking at the opening of Amazon’s…
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Feb- 2020 -25 FebruaryComment
The changing face of retail in the age of digitisation
Retail: the 2020 snapshot It’s no secret that high street retail in Britain has been struggling for the past decade. Since the collapse of Woolworths in 2009, it has been clear that something, somewhere, has been going very wrong on the Great British high street. In fact, currently it is…
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Jan- 2020 -29 JanuaryEconomy
Retail sales fall flat for third consecutive month, CBI finds
Retail sales volumes were flat for the third consecutive month in the year to January with no growth expected next month, according to the latest monthly CBI Distributive Trends Survey. The figures indicate retail sales volumes posted no growth in the year to January (0%, unchanged from December) and that…
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Apr- 2019 -29 AprilAnalysis
The subscription economy
Global spending on subscription-based services and products is booming, powered by an ever-growing range of brands offering everything from media content, to specialist food and drink, apparel, and cosmetics. Initially these existed in the realm of pioneering startups offering niche services and products. Now global retail giants are scrambling to…
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