Interest Rates
This coverage explores UK interest rate movements and their impact on the retail industry, focusing on monetary policy decisions, borrowing costs, consumer spending, and retailer financing strategies. Reporting highlights how rate changes affect sales dynamics, investment planning, and operational budgets — providing insight for executives, finance leads, and business strategists navigating economic volatility.
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Apr- 2023 -3 AprilAnalysis
The current discourse surrounding John Lewis
Recent news of John Lewis’ plan to shake up its partnership model, which sees that staff are treated as shareholders, has received a number of very passionate responses. Andy Street, who was the John Lewis managing director from 2007 to 2016, went on record to say that, should the employee-owned…
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3 AprilClothing & Shoes
Esprit posts HK$664m FY22 loss
Esprit has reported a loss of HK$664m (£68.4m) as its 2022 revenues decreased to $7.1m (£856m), marking a 15% decline over 2021, according to its results for the period ending 31 December 2022. It said that “the unfavourable economic environment” in Germany and the rest of Europe resulted in a…
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Mar- 2023 -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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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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13 MarchSupermarkets
Issa brothers mull sale of Asda properties as debt costs rise
The Issa brothers are reportedly planning to explore a sale of Asda’s £8.6bn property estate in a bid to tackle its rising debt costs. According to The Telegraph, property experts have been drafted in to “assess the prospects for the supermarket’s estate”. However, it is believed the Asda owners, who…
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Feb- 2023 -27 FebruaryClothing & Shoes
Primark owner raises guidance after better than expected trading
Primark owner Associated British Foods (ABF) has announced that it is raising its full-year guidance after Primark traded unexpectedly well. The company stated that its adjusted operating profit and adjusted earnings per share were now expected to be broadly in line with the previous financial year. Total sales at Primark…
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8 FebruaryEconomy
Inflation to add £18.2bn to UK non-food sales
Inflation is set to add around £18.2bn to non-food sales in the UK according to the Ecommerce Delivery Benchmark Report 2023, commissioned by Auctane in partnership with Retail Economics. Sales values are expected to hit £249bn in 2023 with the additional £18.2bn, a 2.6% increase, driven entirely by rising consumer…
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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…
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Dec- 2022 -15 DecemberEconomy
Bank of England raises interest rates by 0.5% to 3.5%
The Bank of England (BoE) has announced that interest rates will be raised by 0.5%, bringing the base rate of interest to 3.5%, the highest level in 14 years. At a meeting held on 14 December 2022, the Bank’s MPC voted by a majority of 6-3 to increase rates by…
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Nov- 2022 -23 NovemberFeatures
Optimising, not cutting, marketing spend is the key to riding out a recession
2022 has set the teeth of marketers and markets alike on edge. Months of political fumbling and ongoing economic uncertainty have made forecasting consumer behaviour more challenging than ever. Heading into the holiday shopping season, retail spending seems somewhat steady for now, but hiking interest rates and ongoing inflation make…
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