Retail prices drop for 21st consecutive month, but we’re still cutting back, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) April 21, 2016 Poor retail figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) this morning have compounded fears of a slowdown in the UK economy during the first quarter of the year. Sales dropped by 1.3 per cent in March, a much steeper fall than the 0.1 per cent which had been pencilled in by analysts. Prices in [...]
Storm clouds are gathering – but Osborne hasn’t fixed the roof May 24, 2016 Uncertainty caused by a potential Brexit in the run up to June's crunch vote may be creating a smokescreen as far as the UK economy is concerned: the reality could be far worse than a few pre-referendum jitters. Recent economic data and surveys reveal some worrying signs about the economy's underlying performance. Profits at the UK’s [...]
Pound jumps against the dollar as UK inflation figures beat expectations in March April 12, 2016 The pound jumped against the dollar this morning, after UK inflation for March beat economists' expectations, data released today by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has shown. British consumer prices rose 0.5 per cent year-on-year in March, ahead of expectations for a 0.4 per cent increase, and up from 0.3 per cent a month earlier. Read more: Inflation basket [...]
Aerobics in the aisles: How supermarkets could solve the obesity crisis, according to Oliver Wyman May 16, 2016 Are the UK's Big Four supermarkets responsible for the obesity crisis? Global management consultancy Oliver Wyman seems to think so. In a report released today, Oliver Wyman has said the Big Four "hold the answer" to the crisis should be using their "considerable influence" to save one million people from being obese and 1.5mn from being [...]
Cost of weekly supermarket shop drops for fourth month in a row to hit lowest level in over a year April 4, 2016 The cost of the average weekly grocery shop has fallen for the fourth month in a row to reach its lowest level in over a year, data released today shows. Research by price comparison site MySupermarket found that a basket of 35 staple products across the major grocers cost £84.36 in March, down 3.8 per [...]
UK retail footfall: Shoppers abandon high street at even faster pace in March April 18, 2016 Shoppers abandoned the high street at an even faster pace last month, with the early timing of Easter and the heavy rain brought on by Storm Katie blamed for keeping visitors away. Footfall dropped by 2.7 per cent in the year to March, according to figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and retail analysts [...]
Footfall dips in February as shoppers abandon shopping centres and high streets March 14, 2016 Consumers flocked to retail parks in February but shunned high streets and shopping centres, according to data out today. Visitors to UK shops dropped by 1.1 per cent in February – an abrupt reversal of the 1.2 per cent rise seen in January, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Springboard said. High streets and shopping [...]
Shop prices decline in February for 34th consecutive month as supermarket price wars gather pace March 2, 2016 Shop prices fell for the 34th month in a row in February, to the benefit of consumers, as food returned to deflationary territory and competition on the high street remained fierce. Prices fell by two per cent in the year to February, which was an acceleration on the 1.8 per cent decline reported in January and [...]
National Living Wage may motivate employees but here’s what it will do to productivity March 30, 2016 While the majority of businesses support the sentiment of National Living Wage (NLW), many are doubting it will boost productivity in the office, despite employees saying the pay rise will make them more motivated. According to a study released today by Close Brothers, 50 per cent of SME owners and managers it surveyed have their doubts that [...]
Business rates set to reach their highest level since introduced in 1990, costing firms an extra £400m March 9, 2016 Retailers and other businesses are bracing themselves for another rates squeeze next month, when the levy will rise again to reach its highest level since it was introduced in 1990. From 1 April, the uniform business rate will hit a landmark 49.7 pence in the pound, which will cost businesses an extra £188m in rates in [...]