BRC: Food price inflation slumps in March to its lowest level in three years April 6, 2010 FOOD price inflation fell to its lowest level in three years last month, according to the latest data published by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) today. The BRC said that food price inflation was just 1.2 per cent in the year to March – down from 1.3 per cent in the year to February, despite [...]
London retail boost fuelled by Easter lift April 18, 2010 RETAILERS in central London saw an almost ten per cent rise in sales last month – fuelled by a booming Easter. The figures, based on a comparison with March last year, showed that the weak pound and an increase in Chinese visitors over the holiday helped to keep tills ringing, with a 9.9 per cent [...]
Debenhams profits up but refit hits sales April 13, 2010 DEBENHAMS posted a profits rise yesterday but sales only rose slightly – as a massive store revamp scheme took its toll.? The store posted half-year profits before tax and exceptional items of £123.6m – a rise of 18.6 per cent. The chain is refurbishing stores as part of its move away from concessions towards more [...]
High street sales bounce back after sterling falls March 14, 2010 RETAIL sales in London rebounded in February with a like-for-like surge of almost ten per cent fuelled by a drop in the value of sterling. The rise came after a dismal start to the year as freezing conditions kept shoppers at home. Across the UK sales were only up an average of 2.2 per cent [...]
What the other papers say this morning May 10, 2010 FINANCIAL TIMES ABN AMRO ADMITS SANCTIONS BREACH The former ABN Amro, now part of Royal Bank of Scotland, on Monday agreed to pay $500m (£337m) in fines as part of a settlement with the Department of Justice and admitted that it willfully and systematically violated US sanctions against Iran, Libya, the Sudan and Cuba. The [...]
Retailers hit by worst January in 15 years as snow and VAT hike take toll February 8, 2010 THE UK high street shuddered last month as retailers suffered their worst January in 15 years due to snow and a lack of consumer confidence, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) will say today. Underlying sales values for January fell 0.7 per cent compared to a 2.6 per cent rise the year before. On a total [...]
PROPERTY FIRM OF THE YEAR | September 8, 2010 THE City’s skyline is changing. Skyscrapers are springing up – okay, more slowly than before, but they are coming. Added to that the commitment to opening retail space and the whole character of the Square Mile is changing. At a time when it might have been easier to abandon their projects, they have shown confidence [...]
Retail sales bounce back after miserable January March 8, 2010 BRITISH retailers bounced back in February after a miserable start to the year, posting a 2.2 per cent rise in like-for-like retail sales values, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) said today. But the BRC cautioned against reading too much into these figures as the growth is compared with very weak figures a year ago when [...]
Darling lowers 2010 borrowing forecast March 24, 2010 CHANCELLOR Alistair Darling yesterday announced an £11bn reduction in the Treasury’s borrowing forecast for 2009-10 to £167bn and reiterated his pledge to halve the budget deficit within four years. Under new forecasts announced during the Budget, public borrowing will fall to £74bn in 2014-15, the end of the forecast period. As a share of GDP, [...]
Shop price inflation sees modest rise as retailers discount heavily February 2, 2010 DESPITE the January increase in VAT, shop price inflation rose a modest 0.2 per cent on the month as retailers offset the hike through heavy discounting and promotions, according to fresh data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC). Annual shop price inflation now stands at 2.3 per cent. Food inflation slowed for the first time [...]