Fuel be sorry: Record petrol prices could hurt retail sector warn experts March 7, 2022 Experts suggest record prices at the pumps could hurt the retail sector and potentially stall the UK's ecommerce boom.
House price growth not set to slow down this spring March 7, 2022 The rate of house price growth has been underpinned by a frenzy of house-hunters while stock levels for properties remain low. According to estate agent Knight Frank, there is no indication that annual house price growth will return to single digits this spring. Annual UK house price growth accelerated to 12.6 per cent in February [...]
John Lewis chair doubles down on profit comments: ‘You need to do well to do good’ March 6, 2022 The chair of the John Lewis Partnership has reiterated her thoughts that companies do not have to sacrifice a pursuit of profit in order to contribute positively to society. Writing in The Mail On Sunday, Sharon White reiterated comments made in a speech to the Resolution Foundation think tank last month. In her column, White [...]
Zara and Burberry shut shops in Russia while John Lewis looks to ‘mitigate exposure’ to country March 6, 2022 Fashion powerhouses have halted trading in Russia following its invasion of Ukraine, citing “operational challenges”. Luxury goods maker Burberry has temporarily shuttered its three stores in Russia, The Times reported. According to the newspaper, the designer brand’s spokesperson said Burberry would continue to monitor developments and declined to address the invasion directly. It comes after [...]
Sadiq Khan: Sell Russian oligarchs’ property and luxury goods to fund Ukraine aid March 6, 2022 The Mayor of London has urged ministers to immediately seize the assets of Russian oligarchs and sell them to fund support to Ukraine. Sadiq Khan has said property and possessions belonging to Putin allies should be seized before these Russians can have a ‘fire sale’ to dodge sanctions. The Mayor has called for possessions such [...]
London faces logistics space crunch as e-commerce firms take over city March 4, 2022 London would run out of available industrial space within five months, should the current take-up rate continue, amid an e-commerce boom. The capital and the South East are facing running out of industrial and logistics spaces, according to a report published today by London First, in partnership with CBRE. It comes as the pandemic has [...]
February retail sales perform well but warnings for mid-level retailers as living costs spike March 4, 2022 Purchases of clothes have driven retail sales growth, thanks to the easing of Covid restrictions. Total like-for-like sales swelled 49.6 per cent in February, according to the BDO’s February High Street Sales Tracker. This was from a base of minus 3.1 per cent in February 2021, when the country was in the throes of a [...]
Pubs face extra £800m in energy bills with bosses bracing for cocktail of hiked costs this spring March 3, 2022 Pubs have reported £800m in additional energy bills, with hospitality bosses warning suppliers are refusing to ink new contracts with venues. Firms have reported energy bills ballooning 150 per cent compared to pre-pandemic energy bills, with an average above 100 per cent. The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) said its members had reported that [...]
Fashion retailers Boohoo and ASOS suspend sales to Russia in solidarity with Ukraine as M&S suspends shipments March 3, 2022 Fast fashion retailer Boohoo has become the latest firm to announce it has suspended sales of clothes to Russia. The Manchester-based e-commerce business joins brands such as Asos and Next, as well as designer names such as Burberry, in making a stand. In a update published on the London Stock Exchange, Boohoo said it was [...]
London renters compete for homes with Powerpoint presentations and pet CVs as stock levels sink March 3, 2022 Prospective renters are going above and beyond to win landlords’ affections as stock levels for homes have diminished. The disappearance of Covid restrictions has sparked a revival for the capital’s rental market, while estate agents report historically low levels of stock. High demand has seen rents surge past pre-pandemic levels and London landlords are once [...]
