Economic Growth
This coverage reviews UK economic growth trends and their impact on the retail sector, focusing on consumer spending, GDP indicators, inflation, and regional performance. Reporting examines how macroeconomic shifts shape retail investment, pricing strategies, and store expansion decisions—offering insights for retail executives, CFOs, and business leaders navigating market cycles and strategic planning.
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May- 2024 -7 MayHigh Street
Retail sales fall 4% in April
UK total retail sales decreased by 4% YOY in April, against a growth of 5.1% in April 2023, according to the latest BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor. This was below the 3-month average growth of 0.5% and the 12-month average growth of 2.2%. However, when correcting for the distortion created by…
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Feb- 2024 -21 FebruaryDepartment Stores
Angling Direct sees group revenues rise to £81.7m
Fishing tackle retailer Angling Direct has reported a 10.2% increase in revenue to £81.7m for the year ended 31 January 2024, despite facing a “challenging” consumer landscape and disruption to fishing caused by storms in the final few weeks of FY24. The group’s UK store sales were up 7.6% to…
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15 FebruaryNews
Today’s news in brief-15/2/24
The UK has entered a technical recession as its GDP contracted by 0.3% in the final quarter of 2023. This marks the first recession since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. The decline in GDP was larger than expected, with key sectors like manufacturing, construction, and wholesale experiencing significant downturns.…
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6 FebruaryEconomy
Retail sales slow as high cost of living enters third year
UK total retail sales increased by 1.2% year on year for the four weeks ended 27 January 2023, compared with a growth of 4.2% in January 2023, according to data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC). This was above the three-month average growth of 1.9% and below the 12-month average…
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Jan- 2024 -11 JanuarySupermarkets
M&S ‘top performing’ grocer over Christmas period
M&S has revealed that it was the top performing grocer in volume growth terms over the Christmas period and the quarter, as food sales rose 10.5%, with like-for-like sales up 9.9%. According to the retailer, supply chain improvements helped to drive better availability year-on-year in its supermarkets. Clothing and home…
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Dec- 2023 -15 DecemberEconomy
Consumer confidence improves during December
Consumer confidence improved two points during December to -22 as sentiment improved ahead of Christmas. All five measures were up in comparison to last month’s announcement. The index measuring changes in personal finances during the last year is up two points at -14; this is 14 points better than December…
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Jun- 2023 -5 JuneNews
Supply chain pressures slow down retail growth
Continued supply chain pressures, including cost increases, delayed materials and shortages outrank workforce challenges and increasing business costs as a main concern for over a third (36%) of mid-sized businesses, according to latest research from accountancy and business advisory firm BDO. The bi-monthly survey, which was conducted on 500 medium-sized…
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May- 2023 -9 MaySupermarkets
Lidl to add over 1,500 warehouse staff amid new distribution centre plans
Lidl GB has announced that it is recruiting over 1,500 warehouse colleagues across its existing regional distribution centre (RDC) network, while confirming plans to build a new RDC on a 35-acre site in Gildersome, Leeds. It said the plans submitted to Leeds City Council for a 54,000m2 build represent a…
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Mar- 2023 -16 MarchEconomy
Retailers welcome budget but ‘missed opportunity’ for rates reform
Retail has welcomed the support for households in the face of the cost of living crisis in the chancellor’s Spring Budget but some have criticised it as a “missed opportunity” for business rates reform. Headline measures announced by the chancellor included an increase in corporation tax to 25% for businesses…
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14 MarchEconomy
Retail jobs at lowest four quarter average in over a decade
The number of retail jobs in the UK was down to its lowest average four quarter level in over a decade, according to ONS Labour Market figures. The four quarter average dropped to 3.05 million retail jobs in December 2022, down from 3.08 million in December 2021. The overall number…
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