Consumer spending bounces in January but high street woes continue February 11, 2020 Brits ramped up their spending in January after a thrifty December, according to new data, in the latest sign that the UK economy may have bounced back at the start of 2020. Consumer spending grew 3.9 per cent in January, data from payment provider Barclaycard showed today, up from the one per cent growth witnessed [...]
Coronavirus: How business responded to Boris Johnson’s lockdown plan May 10, 2020 Business groups have welcomed Boris Johnson’s call for millions of people to return to work but called for clearer guidance on how to maintain safety standards and support furloughed employees. In a speech this evening Johnson said that anyone who cannot work from home — such as those in construction and manufacturing — should be [...]
Retail group urges new government to reform industry November 12, 2019 A leading retail organisation has ramped up pressure on the next government to reform business rates and the apprenticeship levy to rescue the embattled UK high street. The British Retail Consortium (BRC) said the new government following the 12 December General Election should scrap “downwards transition”, which it said means retailers pay £1.3bn over five [...]
‘We should all be ashamed’: NHS England boss calls for end to panic-buying March 21, 2020 The medical director of NHS England has said everyone should “be ashamed” that vital healthcare staff were being deprived of supplies due to panic-buying. Stephen Powis called on the public to think of those working long days to look after our loved ones when shopping. The appeal came at the government’s daily coronavirus briefing today, [...]
Retail bosses call for £6bn corporation tax hike to fund business rates cut February 5, 2020 Retail bosses are preparing to urge the Treasury to increase corporation tax in order to cut business rates by £6bn in a bid to save the UK’s struggling high streets. The recommendation to the government will be made in a report by a sub-committee of the Retail Sector Council, due to be shared in the [...]
Pessimism & reluctance April 17, 2020 A moment of nostalgia for sterling and relief for the euro. Sterling was not unduly worried this week, having a surprisingly successful week. Over the eight-day week it strengthened by an average of 0.5%, losing out only to the puzzlingly mismatched Australian dollar and Japanese yen. It added one euro cent and one and one [...]
UK retail sales suffer worst fall in 25 years due to lockdown April 16, 2020 UK retail sales suffered the worst decline on record last month due to the coronavirus lockdown, however food and online sales jumped as Brits stayed at home. Total UK retail sales decreased 4.3 per cent in March, against a drop of 1.8 per cent in 2019, which is the worst fall in 25 years, following [...]
July 2019 worst on record for retail sales growth August 6, 2019 Last month was the worst July on record for retail sales growth, according to new data published today in the latest blow for the struggling industry. Total sales growth was 0.3 per cent in July – compared to an increase of 1.6 per cent last year- the lowest level recorded for the month since records [...]
Rishi Sunak’s summer statement: What can we expect? July 8, 2020 Chancellor Rishi Sunak will today give a “summer statement”, a sort of mini-Budget in which he will announce schemes to support the economy as it recovers from its coronavirus-induced collapse. Last week, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced £5bn of infrastructure spending. He invoked US President Franklin Roosevelt’s 1930s New Deal, saying the UK will “build, [...]
Mike Ashley urges government to reform business rates system quickly December 16, 2019 Sports Direct owner Mike Ashley has warned that more House of Fraser stores will be forced to close unless the new government tackles the “broken and unworkable” business rates system. Retailers have repeatedly urged politicians to take action on business rates, and ahead of his election win Boris Johnson pledged to launch a fundamental review [...]