Economic Headwinds
This coverage analyses the economic headwinds confronting the UK retail sector in 2025. Reporting focuses on factors such as rising operational costs—including increased employer National Insurance contributions and higher minimum wages—reduced consumer spending due to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, and a challenging macroeconomic environment marked by consecutive GDP contractions. Additionally, the coverage examines the impact of these pressures on retail operations, including store closures, job losses, and shifts in consumer behaviour. These insights are tailored for retail executives, financial planners, and professionals navigating strategic decision-making amid economic uncertainty.
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Jan- 2023 -12 JanuaryDIY
Halfords lowers guidance as lack of technicians hampers growth
Halfords has lowered its full-year profit guidance after it revealed that a challenging labour market meant a lack of skilled technicians combined with a weak tyre market hampered growth. In a trading update for the 13 weeks to 30 December 2022, it confirmed group revenues increased 38.3% and 12.6% LFL…
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10 JanuaryHigh Street
The Fragrance Shop reports ‘record sales’ amid 11% increase
The Fragrance Shop has announced that it saw an 11.2% increase in underlying sales in the six weeks ending 31 December 2022, compared with the same period the previous year. The company said the “record” sales performance was fuelled by popular new fragrance launches, such as Paradoxe by Prada, Fame…
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Nov- 2022 -28 NovemberEconomy
Retail sales plummet in November, CBI finds
Retailers saw their sales volumes plummet in the year to November, according to the CBI’s latest quarterly distributive trades survey, and a similar rate of decline is expected in December. Retail sales declined -19% in the year to November down from +18% in October. The CBI said a similar fall…
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23 NovemberPeople Moves
The Fragrance Shop appoints Peter Cowgill as first NE chairman
The Fragrance Shop has announced former JD sports boss Peter Cowgill as its first ever non-executive chairman. Cowgill suddenly quit his role at JD in May and will take up this new role with immediate effect. He will work closely with CEO Sanjay Vadera and his leadership team. The appointment…
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Oct- 2022 -28 OctoberHigh Street
Store vacancy rate falls but remains below pre-pandemic levels
In the third quarter of 2022, the overall GB vacancy rate decreased to 13.9%, a 0.1% rise from Q2 and 0.6% better than the same period last year, according to the latest monitor from the BRC and Local Data Company. This was the fourth consecutive quarter of falling vacancy rates.…
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Aug- 2022 -18 AugustSupply Chain
Bensons for Beds gets new funding as it appoints COO
Bensons for Beds has secured additional funding from owner Alteri Investors to drive its growth strategy and transformation plans further, whilst also appointing Gavin Chappell as its new chief operating officer. Alteri’s new investment comes two years after it first invested in Bensons. This time, Alteri’s funding will be specifically…
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17 AugustFeatures
The business pledges of the Conservative leadership finalists
Business Rates On 9 August, the Retail Jobs Alliance, a coalition of retailers including Morrisons, Greggs and Tesco, called on both Sunak and Truss to pledge to cut business rates which are charged on most non-domestic properties, such as shops, offices, pubs, warehouses, factories, and holiday rental homes or guest…
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12 AugustProperty
Frasers Group offloads retail parks for £205m
Frasers Group has announced it has completed the sale of a number of retail parks for a headline price of £205m. The group completed the disposal of a number of freehold and long leasehold retail parks held by its owned subsidiaries, to RI UK 1 Limited. Frasers Group intends to…
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2 AugustClothing & Shoes
VF Corp Q1 revenues surge to $2.3bn
VF Corporation has revealed its Q1 revenues surged 3% to $2.3bn (£1.9bn) boosted by its performance in EMEA and the Americas. The group saw revenues at its North Face brand jump 31% to $0.5bn which helped to offset a 7% fall in sales at its primary brand Vans to $0.9bn.…
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1 AugustFeatures
Recession and retailers: a ‘cleansing effect’?
“Incomes are being squeezed, consumption is under pressure, interest rates are rising, and there’s a lot of uncertainty. These are classic ingredients for recession,” says Ian Stewart, Deloitte’s chief economist. According to Deloitte’s UK CFO Survey Q2 2022, finance leaders have assigned a 63% probability of experiencing a recession within…
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