Retailers hit as consumers cut spending December 18, 2011 RETAIL sales are continuing to slump as consumer spending power is hit by inflation, government spending restraint and the Eurozone crisis, according to research published yesterday by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR). Spending is down 1.7 per cent compared with November, the CEBR claims, and down 0.3 per cent on last December [...]
FOR HS2 AGAINST HS2 January 10, 2012 JOHN CRIDLAND Director general, CBI “Without new capacity, by the 2020s the main west coast line would be gummed up, and rail freight would be likely to be squeezed out. We are right to plan for the infrastructure which the next generation will need, and the biggest prize will come from phase two. This will [...]
John Lewis in Mother’s Day boost April 8, 2011 Sales at British retailer John Lewis were higher last week as Mother’s Day, warmer weather and promotions drove a pick up in trade in a generally subdued retail environment. “The combination of Mother’s Day, price matching competitor activity and better spring weather gave sales a real boost with the week closing at up 12 per [...]
CITY MOVES WHO’S SWITCHING JOBS June 24, 2012 Regard Sandie Foxall-Smith has been appointed chief executive of the care specialist group. She joins after four years as chief executive of St Peter’s Hospice in Bristol, and replaces co-founder and major shareholder John Farragher. Foxall-Smith has many years’ experience in the healthcare sector, and previously served as director of development at Circle Health and [...]
Retail sales rise as prices slashed December 20, 2011 Retail sales unexpectedly rose at their fastest pace since May in December, as retailers slashed prices to lure in shoppers, a survey by the Confederation of British Industry showed. The CBI distributive trades survey’s reported sales balance jumped to +9 from -19 in November, the highest since May. Analysts had expected a more modest improvement [...]
Retail sales rise as prices slashed December 20, 2011 Retail sales unexpectedly rose at their fastest pace since May in December, as retailers slashed prices to lure in shoppers, a survey by the Confederation of British Industry showed. The CBI distributive trades survey’s reported sales balance jumped to +9 from -19 in November, the highest since May. Analysts had expected a more modest improvement [...]
Retail sales rise as prices slashed December 20, 2011 Retail sales unexpectedly rose at their fastest pace since May in December, as retailers slashed prices to lure in shoppers, a survey by the Confederation of British Industry showed. The CBI distributive trades survey’s reported sales balance jumped to +9 from -19 in November, the highest since May. Analysts had expected a more modest improvement [...]
Rating agencies are still far too soft January 16, 2012 MANY people have been outraged by Standard & Poor’s downgrades of so many countries, including France and Austria – and last night, of the European bailout fund itself, now no longer backed by enough AAA-nations to be deemed safe. But those who are angry are deluding themselves. The only scandal is why it has taken [...]
John Lewis weekly sales up 7.3 per cent April 15, 2011 Retail giant John Lewis reported its strongest weekly growth rate since early January Figures show a 7.3 per cent increase on last year’s sales in the week to 9 April. Improved weather boosted summer fashion sales with a 10.3 per cent increase. “The general impression remains that consumers are reining in their spending,” said chief [...]
Tough Christmas looms despite retail sales lift November 17, 2011 AGGRESSIVE price cuts led to a surprise jump in retail sales last month, yet separate data suggests that high street stores are set for a tough Christmas. Sales volumes in October were up 0.9 per cent compared the same time last year, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed yesterday. The value of sales, boosted [...]