Record drop in retail jobs as consumers spend less October 26, 2011 LOW consumer spending has led to the fastest drop in retail employment since the British Retail Consortium (BRC) started monitoring data in 2008, a study released yesterday showed. Employment fell by 23,000 in the twelve months to September. Part-time staff were worst hit, while full time employment in the third quarter fell 5,780 on the [...]
Inflation-linked taxes worry retailers October 23, 2011 INFLATION-linked hikes in business rates will offset any gains from government plans to encourage local businesses, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) has said today. Business rates are set to increase by a “colossal” 5.6 per cent in April, the BRC has warned, as it is tied to September’s level of the retail price index (RPI). [...]
British retail industry calls for free trade across EU October 3, 2011 BRITISH retailers face “bonkers” trade barriers that prevent them opening stores in some other European Union countries, a leading industry group will argue today. Excessive regulations deter investment and deprive people of the benefits of free trade, the British Retail Consortium has said. “I applaud the [European] Commission’s efforts to tackle discriminatory national legislation which [...]
WE ARE BOOSTING YOUTH EMPLOYMENT, CLAIM RETAILERS… September 19, 2011 BRITISH shops are boosting youth employment, with more than four in 10 new retail jobs going to people aged between 16 and 21. And around 40 per cent of 16 to 19 year olds with jobs are employed in the sector, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) will argue at the Liberal Democrat conference today.
Thai food giant mulls £2.5bn Birds Eye offer May 13, 2012 A THAI food firm has emerged as the latest suitor in the £2.5bn battle for the frozen foods group behind Birds Eye. Charoen Pokphand Foods, Thailand’s largest agribusiness firm, is preparing a bid for Iglo, which has been put up for sale by buyout firm Permira. The first deadline for bids was on Thursday when [...]
Supermarket price war dents inflation November 15, 2011 CONSUMER price inflation in the UK dropped slightly in October, figures out yesterday from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed, though it remains well above the Bank of England’s target. Headline CPI inflation fell from 5.2 per cent in the year to September to five per cent last month. A 0.9 per cent fall [...]
Supermarket price war dents inflation November 15, 2011 CONSUMER price inflation in the UK dropped slightly in October, figures out yesterday from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed, though it remains well above the Bank of England’s target. Headline CPI inflation fell from 5.2 per cent in the year to September to five per cent last month. A 0.9 per cent fall [...]
Fall in UK retail sales eases October 27, 2011 The decline in retail sales eased off in October, but the underlying trend remains weak despite and expected pre-Christmas pick-up, a survey by the Confederation of British Industry showed. The CBI distributive trades survey’s reported sales balance rose to -11 from September’s -15, which economists had forecast to see repeated. Analysts had forecast a steady [...]
Increased minimum wage will cost jobs, say retailers October 2, 2011 THE NEW higher minimum wage will stifle job creation in the UK’s shops, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) has said. The national minimum wage was hiked by 2.5 per cent to £6.08 per hour, taking effect over the weekend. “This is a disproportionate rise which makes it harder for retailers to maintain and create jobs [...]
Robertson joins the board of Hargreaves Lansdown October 3, 2011 INVESTMENT adviser Hargreaves Lansdown yesterday announced that British Retail Consortium (BRC) director general Stephen Robertson would be joining as a non-executive director. Robertson’s career has spanned 14 years on the boards of major UK retailers, including previous management roles with Mars, Unilever and Alberto-Culver. He also served for seven years as marketing director at B&Q [...]