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- 2019 -29 JanuaryAnalysis
The UK’s high street woes
There are few sectors where the effects of the faltering UK economy have been more starkly visible than the retail sector. It seems that every day the media presents another story about a high street name facing financial difficulty. There are a multitude of factors playing into the softening consumer…
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24 JanuaryComment
Three common factors among retail survivors
It is hard to remember a time when analysts were not being harbingers of doom for the British high street. 2018 saw Toys R Us and Maplin disappear while House of Fraser, Claire’s and Superdry are three of many retailers who have announced profit warnings or store closure. Why are…
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Dec- 2018 -13 DecemberAdvice
The problem with excess stock (and how to avoid it)
There are close to 300,000 retail outlets currently operating in the UK. The pressure is on to not only deliver exceptional customer service, but to stock products that stand out against the competition. The process of sourcing and buying products requires adequate research. Too often, retailers fall into the trap…
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Nov- 2018 -19 NovemberEconomy
Black Friday footfall expected to drop as shoppers go online
Retail intelligence experts Springboard have forecast that Black Friday and the following weekend will do “very little to help the beleaguered high street”. Footfall is anticipated to drop by 3.7% year-on-year compared with last year and down 2.7% over the weekend as a whole. This follows a decline in footfall…
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Oct- 2018 -26 OctoberOnline & Digital
Online retail order volumes slow before ‘Golden Quarter’
Online retail parcel delivery order volumes increased by only 6.4% year-on-year (YoY) in September, the lowest YoY rate in 2018 so far. According to the latest data from the IMRG MetaPack UK Delivery Index, order volumes “typically decline” month-on-month (MoM) around this time of year, but the rate of decline…
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17 OctoberAdvice
How ‘technology transformation’ is shaping the retail renaissance
For European retailers, 2018 has been tough. However, retailers are resilient, and hopes are high that a more positive outlook is on the horizon. Falling European unemployment, twinned with increased net incomes for most countries are good news for consumers, which in turn should mean more disposable income and increased…
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9 OctoberHigh Street
Consumer spending in September dips amid ‘summer hangover’
UK retail sales decreased by 0.2% on a like-for-like compared with September 2017, when it had increased 1.9% from the preceding year. According to new figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and KPMG’s sales monitor, total sales increased by only 0.7% in September, against an increase of 2.3% in…
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Sep- 2018 -12 SeptemberComment
How can retailers utilise queuing psychology?
Retailers must do everything they can to ensure that for customers, their waiting time at the till is not perceived as a negative experience that mars their shopping trip. Harnessing effective queuing measures could be key to maximising customer retention. It’s well reported that competition among brick-and-mortar retailers is now…
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7 SeptemberEconomy
August high street sales one of ‘worst on record’ as shoppers steer clear
August high street sales have been described as “one of the worst on record” by accountancy and business advisory firm BDO. According to the firm’s High Street Sales Tracker (HSST) for August, UK high street sales declined 2.7% year-on-year – making it the worst August decline for three years. BDO…
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4 SeptemberHigh Street
Retail sales growth slows during August
UK retail sales growth continued to slow during August as the summer boost comes to an end, according to figures from the BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor. In August, UK retail sales increased by 0.2% on a like-for-like basis compared with the same period the previous year. On a total basis,…
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