Shop workers see violence and abuse triple amid Covid pandemic to tune of £1.5bn May 31, 2022 Retail workers have seen violence and abuse triple during the pandemic, with the total cost of these crimes hitting £1.5bn this year. In a survey by the British Retail Consortium (BRC), incidents of violence and abuse against shop workers were reported to have surged amid the pandemic. There were some 1,301 incidents a day in [...]
Retailers put all their chips on inflation cooling during golden Christmas run-up September 22, 2023 A better than expected inflation reading, and growing consumer confidence and sales, have offered a glimmer of hope for the UK’s retail sector, as they turn their focus to the vital Christmas trading months. According to today’s ONS figures, retail sales volumes rose by 0.4 per cent in August 2023, partially recovering from a fall [...]
Inflation to continue falling despite rising energy prices, experts predict October 15, 2023 Falling food prices are expected to help bring down the annual rate of inflation in September.
Retailers bet on coronation boost after extra May bank holiday announced November 6, 2022 Retailers are hoping for a royally big boost next year after the government announces an extra bank holiday for King Charles III’s coronation. In an announcement today, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak confirmed the UK-wide holiday would fall on Monday 8 May, following the Coronation on Saturday 6 May. “The Coronation of a new monarch is [...]
FTSE 100 close: London rises on Fed official’s comments amid Israel-Gaza uncertainty October 10, 2023 London’s FTSE 100 index soared as markets reacted well to comments by a top official at the Federal Reserve, despite ongoing uncertainty looming due to the war with Israel and Gaza. The capital’s premier bluechip index closed 1.82 per cent higher at 7,628.21, lifted by Ocado, Anglo American and Flutter. Down the most since March, [...]
Merciless Omicron beating: Retail sector in shock as Boxing Day sales in central London plummet by nearly 70 per cent December 27, 2021 Retailers in central London and across the UK are in shock as the number of bargain hunters looking for Boxing Day sales on the high street plummeted to almost half of pre-pandemic levels. In central London, footfall was 67 per cent lower than 2019 numbers, while it was 58 per cent below 2019 in other [...]
Expensive bites for millions of Brits as food inflation soars to record 11.6 per cent November 2, 2022 With even basics such as tea bags, milk and sugar seeing significant price rises, food inflation has soared to a record 11.6 per cent in October. Overall shop prices are now 6.6 per cent higher than they were this time last year – also a record – but food inflation jumped well above September’s 10.6 [...]
Pace of retail footfall recovery slows in August as retailers look to autumn with ‘air of caution’ September 2, 2022 The recovery of retail footfall slowed last month as the cost of living crisis caused shoppers to steer clear of spending splurges. Although footfall at retail destinations in the UK continued to slowly climb back towards pre-Covid levels, the pace of improvement slowed, according to the latest data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and [...]
RAC accuses forecourts of ripping off motorists with higher fuel prices despite slump in wholesale costs January 28, 2023 One of the UK’s largest motorist organisations has accused forecourts of profiteering from fuel prices by failing to pass on a fall in wholesale costs. The RAC said costs at the pump were still much higher than wholesale costs which have fallen in the last few months. Data published today by the RAC showed that [...]
Fuel retailers hit back at detractors, blaming volatile market for pump price increase June 29, 2022 Fuel retailers have hit back after motoring bodies have accused them of “inexplicably” rising fuel prices at UK pumps. Gordon Balmer, director at the Petrol Retailers Association (PRA), has told journalists that operators are currently operating at a loss due to wholesale prices rising because of the volatile oil market. “Independent fuel retailers need to [...]