News Tag: retail sales
February 26, 2010
The quarterly Confederation of British Industry (CBI) report has revealed shoppers returned the High Street in their droves in February after UK retailers reported their strongest growth in sales volumes for two years in early February.
The CBI also believes further growth will be experienced in March as consumers begin to loosen their purse strings.
According to the CBI’s latest Distributive Trades ...
High street spending recovers as shoppers return
by Kay Murchie
Japanese factory output and retail sales gain
by Kay Murchie
February 19, 2010
As expected, the snowy and icy conditions experienced in the UK in January has resulted in a fall in retail sales.
The severe wintry weather drove shoppers away from the High Street and resulted in a 1.8% fall in retail sales - the sharpest drop in 18 months.
The official figures, from the Office for National Statistics, were more than ...
UK retail sales slip due to January snowfall
by Kay Murchie
February 14, 2010
The Commerce Department has revealed a better-than-expected 0.5% rise in January retail sales compared with the previous month, suggesting a strong economic recovery.
The figures follow on from the 0.1% fall in December but on an annual basis, sales were up by 4.7%.
Retail sales are closely monitored because consumer spending makes up for more than two-thirds of overall economic ...
US retail sales up 0.5%, consumer confidence down
by Kay Murchie
February 4, 2010
The European Central Bank (ECB) today elected to keep interest rates on hold at the historic low of 1% for the ninth consecutive month, as widely expected.
Interest rates are expected to remain on hold for the long-term as a result of uneven growth and low inflation.
The euro zone as a whole emerged from recession in the third quarter ...
Euro zone interest rates on hold at 1%
by Kay Murchie
February 3, 2010
Eurostat has today revealed retail sales in the euro zone were unchanged in December from January.
The figures disappointed analysts who had expected a 0.4% rise in which is traditionally the busiest month of the year for retailers.
The latest figures highlight the fragile state of the economy and weak consumer demand.
On an annual basis, Eurostat said sales fell 1.6% ...
Euro zone retail sales flat in December
by Kay Murchie
January 27, 2010
The CBI has today reported a sharp fall in retail sales for the month of January due, in part, to the severe wintry weather and the rise in VAT which has hit consumer demand.
According to the lobby group's monthly survey (between January 4 and 15), more than a quarter (28%) of retailers said sales had risen in the ...
CBI reports sharp fall in January retail sales
by Kay Murchie
January 22, 2010
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has today revealed a disappointing performance for the High Street for the month of December.
Official figures showed that UK retail sales rose by just 0.3% in December compared with the previous month.
On an annual basis, sales were up 2.1% but both monthly and annual figures were lower than analysts had expected.
The annual figure ...
UK December retail sales fall short of expectations
by Kay Murchie
January 15, 2010
The John Lewis Partnership, which is seen as a barometer of British retailing, today announced that takings dived by almost 30% in the week to 9 January compared with the same week a year ago as a result of the severe weather that has hit the UK.
The results have revealed the impact that the snowfall has had on ...
John Lewis takings down due to January freeze
by Kay Murchie
January 14, 2010
Fears over the strength of the US recovery arose today after the Commerce Department revealed a fall in retail sales in December.
According to the Commerce Department, sales declined by 0.3% in December compared with the previous month, while total sales for 2009 were 6.2% lower compared with 2008.
The figures came as a surprise to economists, who had been expecting ...
US retail sales in unexpected fall in December
by Kay Murchie
January 13, 2010
Fashion and homewares chain Matalan has joined other major retailers by posting strong Christmas sales.
The retailer, which is traditionally based in out-of-town locations, said like-for-like sales for the 13 week period ending 2 January grew 9.3%, with like-for-like sales for the five weeks over Christmas and the New Year up 13.7%.
The chain, which has more than 200 stores across the UK, said ...
Matalan sees strong Christmas trading
by Kay Murchie
January 12, 2010
Further good news for the UK economy emerged today after the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said exports in November soared to £20.2 billion - the highest since October 2008.
The rise was fuelled by sales of consumer goods and chemicals, according to the ONS.
The ONS said that Britain’s global goods trade gap narrowed from £7 billion ...
UK exports jump in November, boost hopes of end to recession
by Kay Murchie
BCC survey reveals UK on verge of exiting recession
by Kay Murchie
BRC: December retail sales in sharp rise
by Kay Murchie
January 10, 2010
Major retailers have experienced a bumper festive season but the British Retail Consortium (BRC) is warning the High Street not to be bullish as a "very tough" 12 months is in store.
Last week, British retailing giant, Marks and Spencer, reported its first sales growth in over two years.
The 125-year-old retailer which sells clothes, food and homewares, said like-for-like sales grew ...
BRC warns of tough year for retailers
by Kay Murchie
December 21, 2009
Minister of Industry and Information Technology Li Yizhong said China’s Government is targeting economic growth of around 8% in 2010.
In a bid to boost China’s economy, which is the world’s third largest, the Government embarked on a massive stimulus package of infrastructure projects to create jobs.
The stimulus package appears to have been successful after the economy continues ...
Analysts say China’s growth target of 8% can be achieved
by Kay Murchie
December 17, 2009
The Office of National Statistics (ONS) has today revealed a fall in UK retail sales for the month of November.
There were hopes that November would see early Christmas shoppers flooding the High Street but according to the ONS, sales volumes fell by 0.3% compared with October, less than analysts forecasts of a 0.4% rise.
On an annual basis, sales were ...
UK retail sales in unexpected fall in November
by Kay Murchie
December 11, 2009
China saw industrial output surge 19.2% ahead in November, compared to a year earlier, increasing from a 16.1% annual rise in October.
In addition, domestic retail sales were up 15.8% year-on-year and while the country registered a 1.2% November fall in exports, the decline was the slowest so far this year.
Last month's figures from the China's National Bureau of Statistics were generally above ...
Chinese industrial output surges ahead
by Gill Montia
December 10, 2009
The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has today elected to keep UK interest rates on hold at the record low of 0.5% for the ninth month in a row.
Furthermore there are no changes to its quantitative easing (QE) programme. Last month, the Bank announced that it would pump another £25 billion into the economy under its QE ...
UK interest rates unchanged for ninth consecutive month
by Kay Murchie
