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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Aug- 2018 -29 AugustEconomy
Shop price deflation comes to an end in August
Shop prices entered inflationary territory in August for the first time in over five years, with prices increasing by 0.1% compared with the 0.3% decrease in July. Non-food deflation continued to ease in August to 1% from 1.4% in July, the lowest rate of deflation since April 2013, and food…
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29 AugustGovernment
SRC calls for tax breaks and scrap for online and out-of-town levy
The Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC) has called upon the government to reassure them that it will make no tax increases or freezes to business rates. Retailers also urged the government to scrap a proposed levy for online and out-of-town retailers. Responding to the calls, the Scottish government has promised the…
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1 AugustEconomy
Shop prices in July reach lowest deflation in eight months
The non-food items category reached its lowest level of deflation since December 2017, at 1.4% in July, according to new British Retail Consortium (BRC) data. The latest BRC-Nielsen Shop Price Index showed fresh food inflation rose 1.6%, compared with only 0.8% in June, and ambient food inflation increased by 2.2%,…
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Jul- 2018 -20 JulyEconomy
High street struggles drag sterling down to $1.30
The pound has been dragged down to $1.30 by declining high street footfall and the financial woes of a slew of retail brands. An increase in retail sales of 0.2% had been predicted by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), however statisticians were surprised by a fall of 0.5% in…
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Jun- 2018 -18 JuneClothing & Shoes
Calvetron Brands to shut 102 Jacques Vert and Precis concessions
Benjamin Wiles, Trevor Birch and Philip Duffy of Duff & Phelps, joint administrators to Calvetron Brands, have announced they are serving notice on 102 Jacques Vert and Precis concessions in the UK and Republic of Ireland. These closures and those announced previously, including Dash and Eastex closures made on 4…
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May- 2018 -31 MaySupermarkets
Asda profits plunge 10% due to price cuts aimed to ‘return momentum’
Supermarket giant Asda has reported a 10% drop in profits for the full-year period up until 31 December 2017 attributed to “investments in lowering prices to mitigate the impact of food inflation”. The company reported pre-tax profit of £712.6m down 9.6% from £791.7m the previous with operating profit also having…
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18 MayOnline & Digital
Online retail jumps 19% in April
UK online retail sales went from strength to strength in April, up 18.8% year-on-year (YoY) according to the latest figures. The IMRG Capgemini e-Retail Sales Index showed it was the highest YoY increase since November 2016, despite the dampening effect of Easter falling in March this year. There was a…
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14 MayEconomy
Retail consumer spending sees sharpest drop since 2012
Consumer spending has suffered its sharpest drop in six years, according to Visa’s latest consumer spending index. Spending in-store fell by 5.4% in April when compared to the same period last year, while overall consumer spending fell by 2%, matching March’s year-on-year figures. Online spending was also down by 0.1%.…
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10 MaySupermarkets
Morrisons announces strong start to 2018
Supermarket giant Morrisons has reported a strong start to 2018, with like-for-like sales increasing by 3.4% during the 13 weeks to 30 April. The figure is comprised of retail sales, 3.0%, and wholesale, 0.4%. Total sales were up 2.8% (up 5.8% including fuel) as a result of store closures in…
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4 MayEconomy
43,000 retailers in ‘financial distress’
Nearly 43,000 retailers ended the first quarter of the year in a state of ‘significant’ financial distress, according to research from insolvency firm Begbies Traynor. Its ‘Red Flag Alert’ research for Q1 2018, which monitors the financial health of UK companies, found the number of firms in the category was…
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