Inflation
This coverage analyses the impact of inflation on the UK retail industry, focusing on costs, pricing strategies, consumer spending, and operational challenges. Reporting highlights economic trends, retailer responses, supply chain pressures, and leadership decisions to manage margins and demand. Designed for executives and managers, it offers insights to navigate inflationary pressures while maintaining competitiveness.
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Mar- 2023 -28 MarchSupermarkets
Supermarket sales up 8.6% as grocery inflation hits 17.5%
Take-home grocery sales increased 8.6% over the most recent 12 week-period as grocery price inflation reached record levels. According to the latest figures from Kantar, grocery price inflation reached 17.5%, adding £837 to the average household’s annual bill, with prices rising fastest in eggs, milk and cheese. Across the retailers,…
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28 MarchEconomy
Shop price inflation grows to 8.9% in March
The British Retail Consortium found that for the first seven days of March annual shop price inflation increased to 8.9% from 8.4% in February. This is above the 3-month average rate of 8.4%, bringing shop price growth to a new high. Meanwhile, non-food inflation accelerated to 5.9% in March, up…
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27 MarchFeatures
It’s always someone’s birthday: gift cards remain evergreen
Inflation and rising living costs have turned consumers into paranoid penny-pinchers, who are cautiously awaiting the next fiscal catastrophe to empty their wallets once again. According to Barclays, nearly six in 10 Brits are actively curbing their discretionary purchases, which has led to just a 5.5% uplift in year-on-year spending…
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23 MarchEconomy
BoE raises interest rates to 4.25%
The Bank of England (BoE) has announced that interest rates will be raised by 0.25% to 4.25%, the highest rate in almost 15 years, following an unexpected rise in inflation last month. The move marks the 11th consecutive increase from the BoE and follows the jump in inflation to 10.4%…
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22 MarchEconomy
Inflation unexpectedly jumps to 10.4% amid rising food prices
The UK inflation rate unexpectedly increased to 10.4% in February driven by increased drink and food prices which reached their highest rate in 45 years, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The rise in the CPI annual rate between January and February 2023 came…
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22 MarchClothing & Shoes
Scotch & Soda files for bankruptcy for Dutch operations
Scotch and Soda has filed for bankruptcy for its Dutch operations after a structural cash flow deficit led to a “failure to absorb the negative effects of corona and high inflation”, despite record revenues last year. In a statement published on its Linkedin page, the clothing brand said the courts…
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21 MarchDIY
Kingfisher FY22 performance suffers amid strong FY21 comparables
Kingfisher has revealed its post tax profits fell 44% to £471m for the full-year period ended 31 January 2023. The company posted sales of £1.30bn, down 0.9% from the £1.32bn it posted the previous year. It also posted gross profits of £4.8bn down 2.8% from £4.9bn last year and operating…
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20 MarchAnalysis
Private equity is changing supermarkets
After being dethroned as one of the Big Four supermarkets by Aldi in late 2022, Morrison’s most recent blow came in the shape of £1.5bn worth of losses one year after being acquired by Clayton, Dubilier and Rice (CD&R) in October 2021 for £7bn with a debt-led takeover. Morrisons, which…
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20 MarchDepartment Stores
John Lewis mulls end to 100% staff ownership structure
John Lewis is considering diluting its 100% staff ownership structure in a bid to raise investment after the business faced a year of heavy losses. According to The Sunday Times, chairwoman Dame Sharon White is reportedly in the early stages of exploring a proposal to change its partnership structure in…
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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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