Office
This coverage examines Office’s strategy, operations, and role within the UK footwear retail sector. Reporting highlights store performance, online initiatives, product trends, marketing campaigns, financial results, and leadership decisions. Focused on commercial outcomes and brand positioning, it offers insights for retail professionals managing footwear, fashion, and multi-channel retail businesses.
-
Feb- 2022 -18 FebruaryNews
Retail sales up 1.9% in January 2022
Retail sales volumes rose by 1.9% in January 2022 following a fall of 4.0% in December 2021, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics. It also revealed sales volumes were 3.6% above their pre-coronavirus (Covid-19) February 2020 levels. Non-food stores sales rose by 3.4% as home…
Read More » -
16 FebruaryEconomy
Inflation hits 30-year high amid rising cost of living
Inflation rose by 5.5% in the 12 months to January 2022, up from 5.4% in December 2021, marking the highest annual inflation rate since May 1992. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the largest upward contributions to the change in the inflation rate between December 2021 and January…
Read More » -
15 FebruaryEconomy
UK labour market sees recovery as unemployment falls to 4.1%
The UK labour market has seen “continuing recovery” as the unemployment rate decreased by 0.2% on the quarter to 4.1%, and employment rates increased by 0.1% in November 2021 to January 2022 to 75.5%. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the ratio of vacancies to every 100 employee…
Read More » -
15 FebruaryHigh Street
UK footfall rises for fifth consecutive week
Across UK retail destinations, footfall rose by +2.2% last week from the week before, with increases in each of the three destination types, according to Springboard. Footfall rose in all types of town centres, with the largest rise of +7.1% in regional cities outside of London versus +3.3% in Central…
Read More » -
11 FebruaryEconomy
UK GDP rises 7.5% in 2021, largest increase since WW2
The UK economy increased by a “better-than-expected” 7.5% in 2021 to record the “fastest” incline since the Second World War, following the 9.4% contraction in 2020. Data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), shows that the UK is on track to be the “fastest growing economy” in the…
Read More » -
2 FebruarySupermarkets
Asda to trial digital self-ID at checkouts
Asda has announced it will be the first supermarket to trial an automated age verification solution at self-checkouts which aims to make it easier and quicker for customers using this facility. From this week, customers in Asda’s Pudsey and Stevenage stores can use privacy preserving age estimation technology when purchasing…
Read More » -
Jan- 2022 -25 JanuaryCoronavirus
Study reveals areas hit hardest by Covid-induced retail insolvencies
Norwich has been revealed as the area hit hardest by Covid-induced retail insolvencies, according to a study by Wholesale Clearance. It revealed that between March 2020 and September 2021 Norwich experienced 8.27 businesses shutting down out of every 100 and a total of 49 insolvencies. It said that for Norwich,…
Read More » -
21 JanuaryCoronavirus
December retail sales dented by Omicron
Retail sales across the UK were dampened by the impact of Omicron last month, as volumes of sales fell by 3.7% in December 2021, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics. While this was the largest monthly fall since January 2021, which saw a decline of…
Read More » -
21 JanuaryEconomy
Signs of footfall return ahead of lifting of Plan B
Increases in footfall are already beginning to be seen after the announcement of the end of Plan B, with footfall on Thursday 20 January up 1.9% on the day previous, and 0.2% on the same day last week, according to the latest figures from Springboard. However, Springboard said that the…
Read More » -
19 JanuaryNews
Inflation hits 30-year high
Inflation reached 5.4% in December, its highest rate since CPIH stood at 5.1% in May 1992, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). It revealed the consumer prices index including owner occupiers’ housing costs (CPIH) rose 4.8% in the 12 months to December 2021, up…
Read More »