Footfall still declining on the UK’s high streets January 8, 2012 FOOTFALL on the UK high streets fell by 1.1 per cent last year, according to data released this morning. The decline was not as steep as the 3.5 per cent drop recorded by Springboard — which conducts the research — in 2010. “Despite year-round negative news from retailers, footfall on UK high streets declined at [...]
Eurozone industrial output falls February 14, 2012 Output at factories in the Eurozone tumbled at the end of 2011, data showed, reflecting the sick European economy, but policymakers and economists expect a recovery in 2012. Industrial production in the 17 countries sharing the euro fell 1.1 per cent in December from November, marginally less than the 1.2 per cent slide forecast by [...]
Clinton Cards hit by “tough” Christmas trading January 5, 2012 Clinton Cards has said it found trading “tough over the Christmas period. Like-for-like sales rose 0.4 per cent in the five weeks to 1 January. In the 22 weeks to 1 January like-for-like sales fell 1.4%. chief executive Darcy Willson-Rymer, who took over in October, is in the middle of a review aimed at getting [...]
Clinton Cards hit by “tough” Christmas trading January 5, 2012 Clinton Cards has said it found trading “tough over the Christmas period. Like-for-like sales rose 0.4 per cent in the five weeks to 1 January. In the 22 weeks to 1 January like-for-like sales fell 1.4%. chief executive Darcy Willson-Rymer, who took over in October, is in the middle of a review aimed at getting [...]
John Lewis toasts “outstanding” Christmas sales January 4, 2012 High Street bellwether retailer John Lewis has said its sales throughout the Christmas period were “outstanding” at almost £600m. Sales rose 9.3 per cent to £596m in the five weeks to the end of December, compared with the same period in 2010, the owner of Peter Jones and Waitrose said. Like for like sales were [...]
Morrisons sales growth slows over Christmas January 9, 2012 Wm Morrison Supermarkets reported a slowdown in sales growth over Christmas and predicted cash-strapped shoppers would remain reluctant to spend this year, despite an easing of inflationary pressures. Britain’s fourth-biggest grocer behind J Sainsbury, Wal-Mart’s Asda and industry leader Tesco) said sales at stores open over a year rose 0.7 per cent, excluding fuel and [...]
Primark helps AB Foods lift its revenues January 19, 2012 DISCOUNT fashion chain Primark hailed strong sales during the festive period, helping its parent company Associated British Foods (ABF) post a rise in first quarter revenue. The FTSE 100 company, which also owns brands including Silver Spoon sugar and Twinings tea, said a 16 per cent growth in sales at Primark helped boost group revenues [...]
Wetherspoon margins hit by VAT costs January 18, 2012 JD WETHERSPOON reported better-than-expected sales in the Christmas period but its chairman Tim Martin called on the chancellor to rethink “punishing” tax increases levied on the pub sector. Martin said the company is still on course to open around 50 pubs in the current financial year but warned that it may scale back future expansion [...]
Dixons fights on despite decline in Christmas takings January 17, 2012 DIXONS RETAIL, Europe’s second largest electronics retailer, reported a decline in sales over the Christmas period, though it managed to improve its margins in spite of widespread discounting on the high street. The owner of Currys and PC World said sales at stores open more than a year fell by five per cent in the [...]
RIM co-CEOs pay cut to just $1 December 15, 2011 BlackBerry maker Research in Motion will pay its two co-chief executives $1 each next year after it posted a 27 per cent drop in quarterly profit and gave a dismal outlook for the Christmas period. Jim Balsillie and Mike Lazaridis will cut their salaries as they work to fix the firm’s problems. Revenues fell six [...]