Retail jobs fall for third month July 27, 2011 EMPLOYMENT in the UK’s retail sector fell by 0.4 per cent last quarter compared to the same period last year, the first time that three consecutive months of negative annual jobs growth has been recorded. The fall in retail employment is equivalent to 3,100 fewer full-time jobs, despite the number of retail outlets in operation [...]
Cable set to cut red tape for retailers July 28, 2011 HIGH STREET firms are set to be granted some relief from the burden of red tape, after business secretary Vince Cable announced changes to over half the UK’s retail legislation. The Red Tape Challenge will amend, simplify or scrap 160 out of 257 pieces of regulation, it said yesterday. The scheme, which invites people to [...]
Retailers hail Independents’ Day July 3, 2011 Independent high street stores need a “programme of support” to survive, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) will argue today, calling for cuts in expensive employment regulation and cheaper parking in town centres. Today has been dubbed “Independents’ Day” in a bid to promote small and medium sized stores, with the BRC also asking for reduced [...]
Mobile phone internet searches more than treble, boosting UK’s retail sector July 17, 2011 SHOPPERS’ internet searches from mobile phones and tablets more than trebled in the second quarter of the year, as booming online sales offer some hope to the UK’s retail sector. Mobile retail searches were up 216 per cent annualised, driving the total number of retail searches up by 27 per cent. “Volumes were down in [...]
High street’s sales take an upturn in July August 8, 2011 BRITAIN’S ailing retail industry showed some signs of life in July, recording a 0.6 per cent rise in like-for-like sales compared to the same time last year. While total sales were up 2.5 per cent for July, the three-monthly trend of like-for-like sales remained 0.6 per cent down, with the British Retail Consortium (BRC) warning [...]
FTSE sinks below 5,000 August 9, 2011 The FTSE 100 plunged below 5,000 for the first time since 7 July 2010 as the crisis of confidence in world markets deepened. The latest plunge came after indices across Europe had opened on the front foot before returning to a downward spiral. Rallying calls form President Obama failed to limit the damage caused by [...]
LONDON: CLOSED FOR BUSINESS August 9, 2011 SCORES of shops across London were closed for business yesterday as the threat of rioting and looting remained high, and home secretary Theresa May met with industry leaders in an attempt to reassure them that extra efforts were being made to protect retailers. May met with business chiefs yesterday afternoon – including the British Retail [...]
Shoppers keep an eye on spending, survey shows June 26, 2011 CAUTIOUS customers are turning their backs on credit cards and turning to cash or debit cards to pay for shopping, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) revealed today. Use of credit cards dropped by 12.9 per cent in 2010, while use of debit cards climbed by 15.8 per cent. “Hard-pressed customers are switching to cash and [...]
High street sales bounce back in June yet British retailers remain cautious July 11, 2011 TOTAL retail sales improved by 1.5 per cent in the year to June, according to figures released by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) today. While food sales slowed slightly, this was offset by increased non-food sales, attributed to the summer clearance sales beginning earlier this year. Like-for-like sales – which exclude changes in shop floor [...]
High street sales bounce back in June yet British retailers remain cautious July 11, 2011 TOTAL retail sales improved by 1.5 per cent in the year to June, according to figures released by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) today. While food sales slowed slightly, this was offset by increased non-food sales, attributed to the summer clearance sales beginning earlier this year. Like-for-like sales – which exclude changes in shop floor [...]