Forecast
This coverage delivers expert forecasts and market outlooks for the UK retail industry, analysing economic indicators, consumer confidence, and sector performance across key retail categories. Retail Sector reports on sales projections, seasonal trends, inflation impacts, and strategic insights from analysts and industry leaders. Coverage spans both short- and long-term outlooks for high streets, e-commerce, and major retail segments, helping professionals anticipate shifts in demand, pricing, and investment. For decision-makers, this category offers data-driven intelligence to support planning, budgeting, and growth strategies in an evolving market environment.
-
Feb- 2023 -2 FebruaryEconomy
BoE raises interest rates to 4%
The Bank of England (BoE) has announced that interest rates will be raised by 0.5%, bringing the base rate of interest to 4%, the highest level in 14 years. The increase, which is the tenth consecutive increase, was decided after the bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted by a majority…
Read More » -
Jan- 2023 -19 JanuaryHigh Street
Boohoo revenues drop 11%
Boohoo has revealed its revenues dropped 11% to £637.7m in the three months to 31 December, in line with the online fashion retailer’s previous guidance. UK revenues declined by 11% year-on-year while international revenues fell by 10% after trade was “impacted by extended delivery times compared to pre-pandemic levels”. Boohoo…
Read More » -
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…
Read More » -
Dec- 2022 -16 DecemberEconomy
Consumer confidence remains at ‘historic lows’ in December
GfK’s Consumer Confidence Index increased by only two points in December to -42, with confidence still sitting at “historic lows”. This marked the eighth month in a row in which the Index has remained at around -40 or lower, the first time this has happened since the GfK’s records began…
Read More » -
14 DecemberHigh Street
Footfall rises marginally as cold snap impacts performance
Footfall across UK retail destinations rose marginally last week (Dec 5-12) by +0.3% from the week before, with a varied performance across the three key destination types, according to Springboard. It found that shopping centres were boosted by their ability to offer shelter from the elements, as footfall rose by…
Read More » -
7 DecemberNews
Inventory planner helps mom-of-three raise America’s fastest growing baby brand
Forget the terrible twos – for most baby and toddler brands, the last five years have been a struggle. More than 3,000 stores that primarily sell baby products and children’s apparel have run into major trouble or permanently closed since 2017, including baby and children’s clothing retailer Gymboree and Babies…
Read More » -
7 DecemberOnline & Digital
Moonpig lowers sales forecast ahead of uncertain Christmas
Greeting card retailer Moonpig has lowered its sales forecast for 2023 to £320m down from £350m in the half year to 31 October 2022. The company cited challenging trading conditions in October and November, including Royal Mail strikes, as the reason for changing its forecast. It has seen mild growth…
Read More » -
5 DecemberDepartment Stores
John Lewis and Waitrose cut heating and lighting to tackle bills
John Lewis and Waitrose are set to reduce their energy consumption this winter, with the department store cutting its heating and the supermarket dimming its lights in a bid to control high energy costs, The Guardian has reported. It comes as the John Lewis Partnership, which includes Waitrose, reportedly said…
Read More » -
5 DecemberHigh Street
CBI downgrades growth forecast to -0.4% amid ‘lacklustre outlook’
CBI has downgraded its GDP growth outlook significantly, to -0.4% in 2023 (from 1.0% in its last forecast), after a “turbulent year both politically and economically”. It said the reason behind the latest change is that the economy is likely to have fallen into a recession in Q3 2022, and…
Read More » -
Nov- 2022 -16 NovemberComment
Consumers are feeling the pinch – but so are retailers. Can Black Friday even happen this year?
Black Friday traditionally marks the start of the festive shopping season, with big ticket promotions that seem to get bigger every year. Black Friday is now fast approaching, and many retailers are reassessing their strategies for this year’s event in light of the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. The cost-of-living crisis is…
Read More »
