England
This coverage focuses on retail developments, trends, and performance across England. Reporting includes store openings and closures, regional economic factors, consumer behaviour, property developments, and strategic initiatives by national and local retailers. Designed for executives and managers, it offers insights into operating successfully within England’s diverse retail landscape.
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May- 2022 -11 MayEconomy
Rising cost of living dents April retail sales
Retail sales decreased by 0.3% in April compared with the year prior, marking the first decline in 15 months as the rising cost of living starts to affect shoppers’ spending habits. According to the latest data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and KPMG’s retail sales monitor covering the four…
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9 MayHigh Street
Shop owners to be forced to rent out empty premises
Shop owners in England could be forced to let out premises that have been vacant for over a year, under new plans from the government. The plans are set to be unveiled as part of the Levelling up and Regeneration Bill, expected to be unveiled in the Queen’s speech on…
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5 MayNews
BoE raises interest rates to highest level since 2009
The bank of England (BoE) has raised interest rates to its highest level since 2009 – marking the fourth time it has taken action since December. The new rate of 1%, up from 0.75%, is the BoE’s latest attempt to curb the rampant rise in inflation – also at its…
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4 MayNews
Morrisons’ new owner to sell 87 petrol stations to complete £7bn deal
Morrisons’ new owner, Clayton, Dubilier and Rice Holdings LLC’s (CD&R), is set to sell 87 of its petrol stations to address competition concerns raised by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) on its £7bn takeover of the supermarket. Following its investigation, the CMA raised the competition concerns in relation to…
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Apr- 2022 -8 AprilSupermarkets
CD&R offers to sell petrol stations in bid to push through Morrisons deal
CD&R has offered to sell a number of its petrol forecourts in order to push through its £7bn acquisition of Morrisons and receive approval from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). It comes as CD&R is also the owner of the Motor Fuel Group (MFG), the largest independent operator of…
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5 AprilEconomy
Retail footfall drops 22.9% across UK
Footfall fell by 22.9% compared to 2019 in the non-food sector across the UK, although footfall is up 9.9% compared to the previous month due to “unseasonably warm weather”. According to Ipsos Retail Performance, the retail sector performed the strongest at -14.9% compared to pre-Covid levels, while footfall on the…
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Mar- 2022 -31 MarchEconomy
UK GDP rebounds 1.3% in Q4 FY21
The UK’ gross domestic product (GDP) is estimated to have increased by 1.3% in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2021 between October to December, meaning UK GDP is now 0.1% below pre-Covid levels. Annual GDP in 2021 is now estimated to have increased by a revised 7.4% compared to the…
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25 MarchEconomy
Retail sales volumes fall 0.3% in February, ONS says
Retail sales volumes fell by 0.3% in February 2022 following a rise of 1.9% in January 2022, according to the latest figures from ONS, with sales volumes at 3.7% above their pre-coronavirus (Covid-19) February 2020 levels. Non-store retailing sales volumes fell by 4.8% over the month following strong growth in…
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24 MarchHigh Street
High streets face £3bn rates rise on 1 April
Retail, leisure and hospitality businesses in England are facing a “dangerous cost of doing business crisis”, according to real estate adviser Altus Group, as the government presses ahead with its £3.1bn business rates rise on 1 April. Analysis by Altus Group, following yesterday’s (23 March) Spring Statement, shows councils in…
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18 MarchComment
13 Spring Statement predictions
With both the global and UK economies coming under pressure from the rising cost of living crisis, which has only been exacerbated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, all eyes will be on the chancellor when he makes his Spring Statement speech on 23 March 2022. Here, Christy Wilson, tax associate…
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