The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has today reported a fall in credit card usage as consumers look to cash and debit cards for their purchases. According to a survey by the BRC, which represents 90% of the UK’s stores, shoppers are opting to use their debit cards and cash to avoid borrowing. However, the number [...]
The John Lewis Partnership, which is regarded as a barometer of British retailing, has revealed sales surged ahead of the VAT rise as shoppers rushed to buy big-ticket items. The renowned employee-owned department store said the bank holiday, on Monday 3 January, saw shoppers buy furniture and electrical goods as they looked to beat the [...]
The heavy snowfall which gripped most of the country last month has hit more retailers, figures showed today. December 2010 was the coldest nationally since records began in 1910. Yesterday, Next – Britain’s second largest fashion retailer, said sales for the five months to Christmas Eve – at shops open at least a year – [...]
Christmas shopping could be hit with the expected return of heavy snowfall over the next few days, according to a report today. A survey by market research company, GfK NOP, found that almost one third of Christmas shopping in Britain is done in the two weeks prior to Christmas. Should the bad weather return, retailers [...]
The John Lewis Partnership, which is regarded as a barometer of British retailing, has announced that sales growth struggled last week as the cold snap meant shoppers stayed at home. The renowned employee-owned department store said “the snow has impacted both footfall and sales in shops where the weather has been particularly poor.” However, the [...]
The John Lewis Partnership, which is regarded as a barometer of British retailing, today announced that sales growth surged last week – as shoppers looked to buy warmer clothing as a result of the colder weather. The renowned employee-owned department store said sales grew 12% to £88 million in the week to 20 November, compared [...]
The John Lewis Partnership, which is regarded as a barometer of British retailing, said sales rose sharply last week as Christmas shoppers took to the High Street. The renowned employee-owned department store said sales at its 28 department stores grew 11.5% to £77 million in the week to 13 November, compared with the same period [...]
BDO, the accountancy firm, has today provided an optimistic report about the prospects for the UK High Street. Spending cuts and tax hikes has led many experts to suggest that consumers will rein in their spending, having a severe impact on retailers. However, BDO suggests that sales will grow by 3% over Christmas as shoppers [...]
Research by the British Property Federation Retail Summit has revealed that the some British towns are turning into ghost towns as shoppers continue to avoid the High Street, in favour of online shopping. A recent study by the Centre for Retail Research (CRR) and shopping comparison website Kelkoo, found that UK shoppers spent more online [...]
The Centre for Retail Research (CRR), in a study commissioned by shopping comparison website Kelkoo, found that UK shoppers spent more online than anywhere else in Europe in 2009. The research showed that UK consumers spent £38 billion online last year (the equivalent of €1,240 (£1,070) per shopper) and accounted for almost a third of [...]
Shoppers were out looking for bargains on Boxing Day after millions flooded the High Street. Shoppers were queuing from 4am at the Bullring shopping centre in Birmingham, while shoppers queued at Lakeside shopping centre in Essex as early as 5am. Retail analysts said around 12 million people hit the High Street on Saturday – with [...]
Marks and Spencer (M&S) is no longer Britain’s most popular fashion retailer. Shoppers seeking bargains amid the economic downturn means Asda’s George and discount clothing retailer Primark are the nation’s first and second favourite clothes shops. The budget fashion chains are luring shoppers away from the more expensive retailers and this was highlighted last month [...]
As retailers opened their doors after Christmas, shoppers in the UK queued for hours outside shops to grab a bargain. In a bid to entice shoppers into the stores, retailers cut prices by up to 70% in the UK and a record number of stores opened on Boxing Day, sparking a 12.5% increase in the [...]
Figures from the US Commerce Department have revealed today that the US economy contracted at its fastest pace in the July to September period, since the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks 7 years ago. Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which is used as a measure of economic health, fell by 0.5% in the third quarter, [...]
According to figures from the US Commerce Department, retail sales in the US fell 2.8% in October, the biggest monthly decline for 16 years. The October fall follows a 1.3% decline in September and is further proof that shoppers continue to tighten their purse strings amid the economic downturn and falling house prices. During the [...]
US shoppers tightened their belts even further in September after retail sales for the month were down. Even discount stores including Wal-Mart, the world’s largest retailer, and wholesale club operator Costco, both reported strong sales, but failed to meet Wall Street estimates. Wal-Mart reported a 2.4% gain in like-for-like sales, which was slightly under analysts [...]
Figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) have shown only a slight sales growth on the High Street in May. Changeable weather and a cutback in consumer spending meant shoppers stayed away last month with like-for-like retail sales falling 0.4%, compared with the same period last year. According to the BRC, food sales were up [...]
M&S Money launches 3% cash ISA
M&S Money has launched an Advantage Cash ISA paying 3 per cent, and which allows transfers in from other ISAs. It can be opened with a minimum deposit of £100 lump sum followed by minimum monthly deposits of £25. The 3% rate is variable, but there is no short-term bonus so the return won’t plummet [...]
Google suspends UK Compare Mortgages site
Google has closed its UK mortgage comparison site which it launched in July last year, after it proved to be less popular than expected. Mortgage comparison sites are designed to allow visitors to compare mortgages quickly and easily without having to visit each lender’s individual site. Google was competing with several well-established comparison sites, including [...]
AA launches ‘black-box’ policy for young drivers
The AA is launching an innovative car insurance policy called Drivesafe which could help younger drivers save up to £850 a year. Younger drivers already pay substantially higher premiums than other motorists and these costs are increasing. A new study by Confused.com suggests insurance costs for younger driver have gone up by 5.7 per cent [...]
ATOL scheme updated to protect online bookers
ATOL, a financial protection scheme managed by the Civil Aviation Authority, is being extended to protect up to six million more holidays a year. The scheme ensures that holiday makers do not lose out financially if a travel company collapses, and that they are not stranded abroad. An increase in the number of holidays booked [...]
Home repossessions lowest for four years
The number of UK homes repossessed fell to 36,200 in 2011, significantly below the Council of Mortgage Lenders’ forecast of 40,000, and lower than 2010 when 37,100 homes were repossessed. With interest rates remaining low and lenders adopting a sympathetic attitude to customers in financial difficulty, repossessions fell to their lowest level since 2007. However, [...]
Monthly pay lasting just 17 days
Workers are running out of money just 17 days after receiving their monthly pay, according to new research by the Halifax bank. This means that the average UK worker spends half the month worrying about money. The study, based on the responses of more than 2,000 adults, found that 10 per cent of workers start [...]
Women disadvantaged by auto-enrolment changes
Government proposals to increase the auto-enrolment threshold to £10,000 could put 1.8 million women at risk of missing out on a pension, the TUC has warned. Under the auto-enrolment scheme, which will be phased in from October, private sector employers will automatically enrol workers between the age of 22 years and the state pension age, [...]
Emergency household repairs company Homeserve is taking longer than expected to get back on track after its operations were suspended last October. The company expected customer numbers to fall by 5% this year but it has increased this estimate to 8% and announced the loss of 200 jobs. It estimates that renewal revenue in 2013 [...]
Sale rumoured for Yorkshire and Clydesdale banks
There is growing speculation that National Australia Bank (NAB) may sell Yorkshire Bank and Clydesdale Bank after the Australian parent company announced a strategic review of the two banks’ operations. The Australian economy is performing well and NAB reported strong profits for the final quarter of 2011 but with the UK economy at a virtual [...]
More women experiencing debt difficulties
Women in Debt, which offers female-focused debt advice, has warned that the number of UK women facing serious debt has grown significantly over recent years. The organisation believes that more women will need advice on solving debt problems in the future because they are building up an unsustainable level of indebtedness. Women in Debt’s director, [...]
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