Inflation continues to accelerate, fuelled by bumper energy prices December 15, 2009 INFLATION accelerated in November to a six-month high of 1.9 per cent as higher energy costs fuelled price rises and pushed the rate closer to the Bank of England’s two per cent target. The retail prices index (RPI), on which many wage negotiations are based, moved back into positive territory for the first time since [...]
BRC: solid start to Christmas despite weaker sales growth December 7, 2009 BRITISH retailers saw weaker growth in sales values last month after experiencing their best October since 2002, the latest survey from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) will show today. Retail sales rose 1.8 per cent on a like-for-like basis in November compared to the same period last year when sales volumes fell 2.6 per cent [...]
Sales grow at Morrisons November 19, 2009 WM Morrison yesterday unveiled strong third quarter sales, a day after the City and investors were left reeling from the shock departure of its chief executive Marc Bolland. The group said like-for-like sales rose 4.3 per cent in the 13 weeks to 1 November, just below expectations, as slowing food inflation pegged back growth from [...]
October jump in inflation is first of many November 17, 2009 INFLATION accelerated in October for the first time in eight months as economists warned that last month’s bounce might spell the beginning of several months of increases. Official data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed yesterday that the consumer prices index (CPI) rose to an annual rate of 1.5 per cent in October, [...]
Eurozone prices fall on fuel but a rise is expected in November November 16, 2009 Cheaper food and fuel pulled down the eurozone consumer price index in October for a fifth month running in annual terms, data confirmed yesterday, but inflation is expected to return in November. Prices in the 16-country area rose 0.2 per cent last month compared with September but dipped 0.1 per cent year-on-year, European Union statistics [...]
THE TIPSTER RETAILERS TRY TO BEAT THE RECESSION November 15, 2009 SO FAR, so good for the British retailers, it would seem. The likes of Marks&Spencer, Next and J Sainsbury have all released better-than-expected third quarter figures, and the latter is once again looking like an attractive proposition. Although lower food inflation might be expected to hit bumper sale figures, both the supermarket and its rival [...]
Non-food to drive growth at Sainsbury’s November 11, 2009 J SAINSBURY has pinned its growth hopes on a bold expansion of its non-food offering, with plans to take on market leaders Tesco and Asda in larger-format stores. Unveiling a robust 18 per cent rise in first half profits to £307m yesterday, chief executive Justin King outlined a £2bn expansion programme for the next two [...]
Clubcard lifts Tesco’s share of customers November 10, 2009 SUPERMARKET giant Tesco is growing market share for the first time in two years as it fights back at its rivals, industry figures show. Tesco’s double Clubcard points promotion – which cost the group around £5m a week – helped its share of the grocery market climb to 30.7 per cent in the 12 weeks [...]
Strong retail sales growth but 2010 outlook uncertain November 9, 2009 RETAIL sales enjoyed their strongest October growth for seven years with retail sales values rising 3.8 per cent on a like-for-like basis, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC). But the BRC warned that last month’s strong performance was compared to October 2008, when sales fell 2.2 per cent due to turmoil in the financial [...]
Asda and J Sainsbury to battle it out in crunch time for grocers November 8, 2009 J Sainsbury and Asda will go head -to-head this week to show the City how they have been faring in the consumer downturn. Sainsbury’s, Britain’s third-biggest grocer, is expected to post a 16 per cent rise in first-half profits on Wednesday and warn of a tougher second half amid stiff competition. And Asda, owned by [...]