John Lewis is upbeat on 2012 March 7, 2012 THE CHAIRMAN of John Lewis has predicted a modest recovery for retailers this year despite unveiling a sharp fall in annual profits. Charlie Mayfield told City A.M. the sector would shift from “decline to growth” this year following a “bloody difficult” 2011. He added: “I’m not in any way underplaying how serious the challenges are. [...]
Inflation slows as shops keep cutting prices February 7, 2012 SHOP PRICE inflation dropped in January, figures out today from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) showed, as last year’s VAT rise fell out of the calculation. Overall, inflation dropped to 1.4 per cent from 1.7 per cent in December, helped by falling commodities prices and declining freight costs, as well as ongoing promotions and discounts. [...]
Higher cost of crime hit shops January 15, 2012 ROBBERY, attacks on staff and verbal abuse all jumped in 2011, according to the British Retail Consortium’s (BRC) annual crime survey published today. The overall cost of retail crime jumped 31 per cent to £1.4bn on the year and the number of robberies increased by 20 per cent. An average robbery now costs businesses £989, [...]
Higher cost of crime hit shops January 15, 2012 ROBBERY, attacks on staff and verbal abuse all jumped in 2011, according to the British Retail Consortium’s (BRC) annual crime survey published today. The overall cost of retail crime jumped 31 per cent to £1.4bn on the year and the number of robberies increased by 20 per cent. An average robbery now costs businesses £989, [...]
Budget fuels crisis on the high street March 22, 2012 SOME of the UK’s most senior retailers yesterday slammed the chancellor’s supposedly pro-business Budget, saying his failure to address a planned hike in business rates will deal a blow to Britain’s ailing high streets. George Osborne has said he will cut corporation tax faster than planned to 24 per cent this year. But retailers were left [...]
Retail morale is knocked by sluggish sales February 6, 2012 RETAIL sales have remained sluggish at the start of 2012, despite earlier reports that weak consumer confidence was turning a corner. Like-for-like sales were down 0.3 per cent in January compared to the same time last year, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) said this morning. “Customers parked their worries in December and spent, encouraged by [...]
Retail morale is knocked by sluggish sales February 6, 2012 RETAIL sales have remained sluggish at the start of 2012, despite earlier reports that weak consumer confidence was turning a corner. Like-for-like sales were down 0.3 per cent in January compared to the same time last year, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) said this morning. “Customers parked their worries in December and spent, encouraged by [...]
December sales boost flattered by 2010’s snow January 9, 2012 HOPE for the British high street was boosted this morning by figures showing a sharp increase in retail sales for December, compared to the key Christmas period the previous year. Like-for-like retail sales were up 2.2 per cent, while total sales — which include newly developed shop floor space — jumped by 4.1 per cent. [...]
What the other papers say this morning August 19, 2012 FINANCIAL TIMES Call to limit China’s UK nuclear stake Chinese companies competing for one of the UK’s biggest nuclear projects are unlikely to end up with a majority stake in any winning consortium in an attempt to allay concerns about Beijing gaining control of the Horizon reactor programme. Olympics effect on Scottish vote in debate [...]
LATE BOOST FROM CHRISTMAS SHOPPING December 21, 2011 RETAIL sales jumped sharply last week, reversing the negative trend that has defined much of 2011, according to data out yesterday from the British Retail Consortium (BRC). Sales rose 2.3 per cent on the week before, and 2.6 per cent on the same week of last year. Heavy promotions and discounts led to the jump, the [...]