Recession
This coverage analyses the effects of economic recession on UK retail, focusing on consumer behaviour, business resilience, cost-cutting strategies, and market performance. Reporting provides insight into sales trends, operational adjustments, leadership decisions, and recovery planning — supporting retail executives, managers, and owners navigating economic downturns and sustaining commercial viability.
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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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17 NovemberEconomy
Chancellor freezes tax thresholds in Autumn statement
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has announced a raft of measures to help “stabilise” the UK economy and reduce inflation, with tax cuts and spending cuts totalling £55bn in the Autumn statement. As part of the new measures, Hunt confirmed that tax as a percentage of GDP will rise by over 1%…
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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…
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11 NovemberEconomy
UK economy contracts 0.2% in Q3
The first signs of the UK entering a recession reared its head in the last quarter as the economy contracted by 0.2% between July and September, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Monthly estimates published today (11 November 2022) found that GDP fell by…
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8 NovemberEconomy
Grocery price inflation hits record 14.7%
Four-week grocery price inflation has hit another record high figure at 14.7%, according to Kantar, marking another “record” high and adding a potential extra £682 to annual grocery bills. The news comes as take-home grocery sales increased by 5.2% in the 12 weeks to 30 October 2022, marking the fastest…
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3 NovemberEconomy
BoE raises interest rates to 3%
The Bank of England (BoE) has raised the base rate of interest to 3%, an increase of 0.75%, as it warned that the UK is set to face its longest recession since records began. At its meeting ending on 2 November 2022, the Bank’s MPC voted by a majority of…
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Sep- 2022 -22 SeptemberEconomy
BoE raises interest rates to 2.25%
The Bank of England has today (22 September) announced that interest rates will be raised by 0.5%, with rates rising from 1.75% to 2.25%. The latest announcement from the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) comes as inflation remains at record highs for the UK, and marks the seventh consecutive rise in…
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21 SeptemberAnalysis
Inflation, fast fashion and how to keep shoppers in a recession
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), inflation is back in the single digits in August after it rose to worrying heights in July. However, despite its fluctuations, inflation has remained at record-breaking levels, damaging profits for affordable fashion retailers among others in different sectors. According to Fashion Network,…
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14 SeptemberAnalysis
Is the rise in distressed M&As set to continue?
The number of merger and acquisition (M&A) deals targeting UK retailers has increased in the last year, up from 28 transactions to 34 in the last 12 months, as deals in the sector “buck the overall slowdown in M&A”, according to RPC, the international law firm. However, the UK has…
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14 SeptemberEconomy
Inflation falls in August but remains near 40-year high
UK inflation eased slightly in August to 9.9%, down from 10.1% in July, but remains near a 40-year high as prices continue to rise, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). On a monthly basis, CPI rose by 0.5% in August 2022, compared with a…
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