Gen Z and millennials shrug off inflation woes to buy ethical goods July 31, 2023 Gen Z and millennial shoppers are shrugging off inflationary woes and continuing to prioritise a retailer’s reputation when choosing where to spend. Some 33 per cent of 18-34-year-olds said they are more loyal to brands with a ‘positive corporate reputation’ and ‘values’ that align with their own, compared to just one in seven shoppers aged [...]
Tortilla boss remains ‘quietly confident’ despite investment and Brexit challenges July 31, 2023 The boss of fast-food Mexican chain Tortilla, Richard Morris, has said that soaring costs and a tumultuous two years for restaurants has led the sector to be hit “quite badly” from a lack of investment. Tortilla, which serves lunchtime burritos and salads, floated in 2021 on London’s junior AIM market, as part of a five [...]
Retailers in trouble as 51 per cent of punters cut back on clothes shopping July 31, 2023 Retail and hospitality industries continue to be bruised by the UK’s cost of living crisis as 59 per cent of people have cut their spending on eating out and a further 51 per cent have cut spending on clothing. As Brits continue to watch their pennies amid high inflation, figures from Oxera show that in [...]
UK lost 6,000 store fronts due to covid and ‘crippling’ business rates July 28, 2023 Britain has lost 6,000 storefronts in five years amid Covid and cost-of-living pressures and “crippling” business rates, according to figures. The overall vacancy rate increased to 13.9 per cent across Britain in the second quarter of this year, a 0.1 percentage point drop on the first quarter but 0.1 points up on the same period [...]
Don’t ‘clobber’ Londoners with ULEZ, Rachel Reeves says July 27, 2023 Now is not the right time to “clobber” Londoners with the ULEZ charge, Labour shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves has said. The shadow chancellor has weighed in on the ultra low emission zone (ULEZ) expansion row engulfing City Hall and Labour politics in the wake of the Uxbridge by-election defeat. She told the Sun she was [...]
Hunt tells banks and energy firms to use profits to support customers and avoid a ‘fiscal intervention’ July 26, 2023 Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has urged big banking and energy firms to use their profits to help customers with the cost of living crisis, and avoid intervention from the Government. In an article calling on corporations to support the public through Britain’s ongoing economic woes, he appealed to firms to be more responsible, pitching a “social [...]
Food promotions now make up 22.5 per cent of grocery sales – and it’s up a fifth from last year July 25, 2023 Promotions on food and other items now account for 22.5 per cent of grocery sales, as Brits continue to seek out bargains amid the cost of living crisis. The figure has risen from 20 per cent last year in the same period last year and is the highest over the past 12 months excluding Christmas and [...]
Matalan: Rainy weather and shift back to stores leads to revenue slump July 24, 2023 Matalan reported a challenging first quarter as poor summer weather impacted sales against the backdrop of cost of living pressures and a shift away from digital. The bargain homeware and clothing retailer said revenues in the thirteen weeks to 27th of May declined eight per cent to £263m. However, in the five weeks to the [...]
Summer deals help bump retail sales as growth falls at slowest rate in a year July 21, 2023 Retail sales grew by 0.7 per cent in June 2023 with increases across all the main sectors, as warmer weather and a greater selection increased consumer spending. During the month, non-food stores sales volumes rose slightly by 1.0 per cent in June 2023, following a fall of 0.5 per cent in May 2023, according to [...]
Uxbridge by-election: Tories hold Boris Johnson’s old seat as Labour blame Sadiq Khan’s ULEZ expansion July 21, 2023 The Conservatives have held onto Boris Johnson’s former seat of Uxbridge and South Ruislip as Labour blame Sadiq Khan’s ULEZ expansion policy for the loss. Tory councillor and former postman Steve Tuckwell won the west London constituency with 13,965 votes – beating Labour’s Danny Beales, on 13,470. Sir Keir Starmer’s party had hoped to overturn [...]
