Bring me sunshine! Retailers hit by grim April weather as economy held back by the rain May 9, 2023 Retailers continued to be bruised by soaring inflation and poor weather conditions in April, as the sector holds out hope for summer to give a much needed boost in sales. Data by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) showed that while retail sales rose slightly over five per cent during the month, overall inflation meant that [...]
House prices rise for the first time in seven months but analysts still expect a rough ride May 2, 2023 The housing market showed “tentative” signs of recovery in April as the price of homes rose 0.5 per cent during the month, however prices remain four per cent below their August 2022 peak. The Nationwide house price index showed that the annual rate of house price growth improved to -2.7 per cent from -3.1 per [...]
Coffee beans and ready meals send food inflation soaring yet again – and peak is yet to come May 2, 2023 Food inflation reached new highs in April soaring 15.7 per cent, according to new data, with the cost of convenience food such as ready meals and coffee beans increasing due to supply chain woes. While shop price inflation fell slightly by one per cent in the month to 8.8 per cent, food prices remained at [...]
Heineken: Beer giant shows love for local pubs with £40m injection May 1, 2023 Heineken will invest £40m into 570 pubs it owns within its hospitality business, as the beer giant looks to show support for local boozers amidst the cost of living criss. Almost a quarter of businesses within its Star Bar & Pub group will receive the boost – with 100 of these scheduled for revamps averaging [...]
Coronation: How much will it be worth to the West End? April 30, 2023 Retail and hospitality businesses across London’s West-End are gearing up for a £50m boost during the Coronation weekend, as a flock of tourists will help temporarily relieve inflationary and cost of living woes. According to figures from New West End Company, which represents 600 retail, restaurant, hotel and property owners spanning from Bond Street to [...]
Sainsbury’s profits takes inflation and cost of living hit as supermarket faces stark choice April 27, 2023 In its full year results for the year ending 4 March 2023, Sainsbury’s pre tax profits fell from £854m to £327m as the retailer battled to keep its pole position as one of the UK’s largest supermarkets. The supermarket giant said it was impacted by non-cash asset impairments, driven by a higher discount rate, and [...]
Pret hikes price of coffee subscription in wake of soaring inflation April 26, 2023 Pret-A-Manger has revealed that it is increasing the price of its subscription service by £5 in the wake of soaring inflation. The London-born coffee chain said that the price of its ‘Club Pret’ loyalty service is rising from £25 to £30, however, fans of the cafe will now also receive a 10 per cent discount [...]
Prezzo shuts 46 branches including four in London as 810 jobs put at risk April 24, 2023 Prezzo will shut 46 loss making sites across the UK including three in London and place 810 workers at risk of redundancy, as soaring energy and a hike in food costs rattle the business. The Italian restaurant chain, which is owned by private equity firm Cain International said that the closures will impact sites where [...]
Could Mega May save retail? Hopes are riding high on King’s coronation and bumper May Day bank holiday boost April 21, 2023 Could the coronation of King Charles III help lift the UK’s post-Covid retail industry? Our retail reporter Laura McGuire finds out. March has proved to be another challenging month for the retail industry as sales fell 0.9 per cent due to soaring living costs and the third wettest March in history. However, with Royal celebrations [...]