Three in ten independent retailers to stay shut today June 15, 2020 Thirty per cent of independent retailers are planning to keep their doors closed today, as lockdown restrictions ease and allow some shops to reopen. Just over a third of stores predicted they would be trading at pre-lockdown levels by December 2020, rising to 56 per cent who felt they would be back to normal by [...]
Visitor numbers at UK shopping destinations dive in coronavirus lockdown May 18, 2020 The number of visitors to UK shopping destinations collapsed last month during the coronavirus lockdown, according to the latest research. UK footfall plunged 84.7 per cent in April, a record decline for the retail industry, due to the mandatory coronavirus lockdown that forced shops to close and restricted the movement of consumers. Shopping centre footfall [...]
UK retail sector sheds 57,000 jobs after tough year for high street January 23, 2020 The retail sector shed 57,000 jobs in the fourth quarter of last year following the “worst year on record” for the UK high street. The total number of retail employees fell 1.8 per cent year on year, in the 16th consecutive quarter of decline, the latest research found. The job loss figures come after it [...]
Retailers call for shop reopenings based on safety standards May 10, 2020 The reopening of shops after the coronavirus lockdown should be based on safety standards rather than size or business type, a top retail chief has said. Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium (BRC), said she expected a “gradual lifting” of the restrictions, with schools and transport the first to reopen. But she [...]
Treasury mulls over temporary VAT cut to boost economy June 15, 2020 Chancellor Rishi Sunak is considering a temporary VAT cut to help boost consumer demand and confidence. The Treasury is considering either a blanket cut in VAT or a more targeted reduction in a bid to stimulate the faltering economy. The measure would mirror the temporary VAT cut taken by former chancellor Alastair Darling during the [...]
Former chancellor backs government plans to slash VAT June 22, 2020 Former chancellor Ken Clarke has said cutting VAT would be the “sensible thing to do” as the government prepares to implement new measures to revitalise the British economy. Speaking to the BBC today, the Tory MP said: “I think coming out of the lockdown, sorting out the mess — including the recession after the coronavirus [...]
Morrisons’ chairman calls Christmas supply concerns ‘slightly overblown’ October 4, 2021 Morrisons’ chairman has downplayed concerns over the supermarket supply chain this Christmas. Andy Higginson said he was “not worried” about the challenges arising from a shortage of goods drivers and reports forecasting empty shelves this autumn, the BBC reported. The supermarket boss said problems in the supply chain were “well publicised” and “slightly overblown”. “Supply [...]
‘Worst year on record’ for retailers in 2019 January 9, 2020 Last year was the worst 12 months on record for UK retailers, as overall annual sales dipped for the first time since 1995, according to the latest data. Total sales in 2019 fell 0.1 per cent, marking the worst year for retailers since records began 25 years ago, due to a year of political uncertainty [...]
UK retail parks fare better in lockdown than high streets and shopping centres April 20, 2020 The number of shoppers visiting the UK’s retail destinations plunged by a record amount last month due to coronavirus, however a surge in supermarket demand helped to shield retail parks. UK retail footfall plummeted 44.7 per cent in March due to the mandatory lockdown which restricted movement and forced all non-essential stores to close. In [...]
Retailers suffer ‘another month of struggle’ in May amid coronavirus lockdown June 9, 2020 Retailers endured a second consecutive monthly drop in sales in May, as the high street continued to suffer from the effects of the coronavirus lockdown. The British Retail Consortium (BRC) said sales fell 5.9 per cent last month compared to May 2019. The monthly health check found record growth in online sales, as retailers continued [...]