Weaker retail sales cast shadow over growth outlook for the US May 13, 2014 US RETAIL sales grew by a meagre 0.1 per cent in April, a shadow of the previous month when sales jumped by a revised 1.5 per cent. Sales in April were four per cent higher than a year earlier, the Commerce Department said, but still disappointed investors. Analysts at HSBC had expected sales “to turn [...]
Retail sales rebound to fastest growth in a decade on strong Easter shopping May 21, 2014 Retail sales growth has shot up on the back of strong Easter trading. According to official estimates, retail sales were 6.9 per cent higher in the year to April, up from last's month reading of 4.2 per cent growth. That's the strongest growth in sales seen since almost 10 years ago, in May 2004. Consensus [...]
Retailers cheer as Easter buyers flock to shops May 12, 2014 SHOPPERS flooded back to high streets and shopping centres this April, with sales surging during the late start to Easter, according to a major trade group. This mornings’s figures on retail sales from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and KPMG show a 5.7 per cent jump in spending last month, when compared to the same [...]
The FTSE just hit its highest level since January 2000. Here’s what you need to know May 13, 2014 Traders are shrugging off concerns about tensions over Ukraine, and instead riding the momentum from yesterday's record-setting US session. London's leading index, the FTSE 100, is currently trading at its highest level since January 2000. More broadly European shares have risen to a six-year high after that US rally. Yesterday saw the Dow Jones and [...]
Fewer shoppers in April despite Easter weekend May 19, 2014 BRITISH retailers have reported a shock drop in the number of shoppers heading into stores this April, with figures suggesting lower foot traffic despite the effect of a late Easter. Figures released this morning by Springboard and the British Retail Consortium (BRC) show that footfall dropped 0.1 per cent last month, when compared to April [...]
Retail set for Easter rebirth after March footfall sees 1.8 pc boost April 16, 2014 RETAIL footfall rebounded in March, rising 1.8 per cent above levels seen in the same month last year and with high street stores seeing the best footfall in 11 months, according to data released today. Figures released by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Springboard today show a jump for out-of town stores and high [...]
Retailers hope for strong Easter after bad March April 14, 2014 UK RETAIL sales fell in March as cash-strapped shoppers cut back again on spending on areas including food and furniture, industry figures reveal today. Total retail sales in March were down 0.3 per cent compared with the same month of 2013, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and KPMG have calculated. And like-for-like sales – comparing shopping [...]
British retailers lure overseas online browsers April 28, 2014 THE NUMBER of overseas shoppers browsing the web for British clothing and footwear retailers has surged in the past year, with department stores grabbing a greater share of the attention, new figures released today show. Retailers have been pushing ahead with international expansion plans to offset slowing growth and weak consumer spending at home, using [...]
Record drop in shop prices with 11th month of deflation in March April 8, 2014 SHOP prices tumbled further in March, with the fastest deflation for more than seven years recorded by a major monthly report on the sector. According to the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Nielsen’s latest research, shop prices fell by 1.7 per cent in the year to March, the largest drop since the groups began keeping [...]
Supermarkets told to cut BOGOF deals to reduce UK’s food waste April 7, 2014 SUPERMARKETS have been urged to stop offering “buy one get one free” (BOGOF) deals in a bid to cut down on food waste. A report by the House of Lords European Union Committee revealed 15m tonnes of food is wasted in the UK each year, and 89m tonnes in the whole of the EU. The [...]