Cranswick upgrades profit as African Swine Fever boosts UK exports January 17, 2020 British butchers Cranswick said this morning that its full-year profit will beat expectations after export sales soared due to African Swine Fever. The company said “export sales have continued to be exceptionally strong”, as an outbreak of African Swine Fever in China has seen the demand for British pork rise. “African Swine Fever has created [...]
Premier Foods boosts sales of festive favourites over Christmas period January 17, 2020 Premier Foods boosted sales over the Christmas period as customers stocked up on traditional festive food such as gravy, stuffing and mince pies. UK sales were up 3.6 per cent in the 13 weeks to 28 December, as Mr Kipling sales grew 10 per cent following marketing investment and new product launches. The sale of [...]
UK retail sales decline knocks sterling lower January 17, 2020 UK retail sales fell in the “golden quarter” of Christmas trading, the latest statistics showed today in a further sign of the challenges facing the British high street. In the three months to December 2019, the amount spent and the quantity bought in the retail industry fell 0.9 per cent and one per cent respectively, [...]
Retail health hits record low in 2019 January 16, 2020 Retail health hit a record low last year as high street stores battled weak consumer demand and faced pressure to slash prices. The latest Retail Health Index published by a KPMG and Ipsos think tank hit a record low of 74 in 2019 – the worst result since the tracker was established in 2006. The [...]
Halfords hails Christmas bike sales as it sticks to profit target January 16, 2020 Strong Christmas bike sales helped Halfords stick to full-year profit guidance of between £50m and £55m today as it unveiled figures for the festive period. Group revenue rose 4.6 per cent in the 14 weeks to 3 January while like-for-like sales climbed 1.3 per cent as the repair shop reconfirmed its operating profit target. Cycling [...]
Primark UK store sales dip as retailer outlines expansion plans January 16, 2020 Primark’s like-for-like UK in-store sales dipped over the Christmas trading period, the budget retailer announced this morning. The high street chain’s owner Associated British Foods (ABF) said today that there was a “marginal decline” in like-for-like UK sales in the 16 weeks to 4 January. However, the impact of extra store space boosted total UK [...]
The Works CEO steps down following string of profit warnings January 16, 2020 The Works chief executive Kevin Keaney has stepped down after nine years, two months after the discount art retailer issued its second profit warning of 2019. The company’s share price jumped 11 per cent this morning after it announced that finance chief Gavin Peck will replace Keaney, as it issued an update on the Christamas [...]
Til divorce do us part: advice for couples considering separation January 16, 2020 Christmas is meant to be a relaxing time, but for many people it’s also a period of stress, tension, and tribulations — especially for married couples. The financial burden of the holidays plus the pressure to have a “perfect Christmas” and the familiar strain of dealing with in-laws can lead to squabbles and even full-blown [...]
Why a Bank of England interest rate cut looks increasingly likely January 15, 2020 Just a week ago, investors rated the chances that the Bank of England would cut interest rates at about five per cent. Today, they think there is a 60 per cent chance that the main rate will be lowered from 0.75 per cent, according to CME Group’s tool which analyses futures prices. So what has [...]
Expectations of BoE rate cut rise after UK inflation falls to three-year low January 15, 2020 Sterling fell on Wednesday after data showed UK inflation unexpectedly slipped to a three-year low during December, ramping up expectations that the Bank of England (BoE) will cut interest rates later this month. The consumer price index (CPI) rose 1.3 per cent last month compared to a year earlier — the weakest level since November [...]