Public sector increasingly nervous about jobs November 9, 2010 IN the run up to the Christmas season feelings of insecurity surrounding employment situations can become more acute. A monthly Household Economic Activity Tracker (HEAT) produced by YouGov SixthSense has found that a net percentage of employees were more fearful for their jobs in October (net -20 per cent) than they had been during September [...]
Retail sales failed to pick up in October November 8, 2010 RETAIL sales failed to revive in October as weak consumer confidence in the lead up to the comprehensive spending review undermined growth the British Retail Consortium (BRC) will say today. The latest figures show total retail sales grew by 2.4 per cent year-on-year in October but this compared to growth of 5.9 per cent for [...]
Chinese fuel shops boost November 8, 2010 LONDON saw a 167 per cent increase in Chinese shoppers in October, compared to the same month last year. The rise has been fuelled by shoppers snapping up designer goods and a Chinese holiday which saw more holidaymakers than ever from the country. As well as the rise in customers the average spend was up [...]
John Lewis to launch its xmas ad campaign with the X Factor November 8, 2010 JOHN Lewis will launch its Christmas TV advertising campaign on Saturday during an ad break on the X Factor. The new campaign – which will be set to a cover of Elton John’s “Your Song” – was created by advertising agency Adam & Eve. The 60-second advertisement focuses on the care needed to find the [...]
Audley’s sure his blueprint for success is ready to pay November 8, 2010 AFTER an hour in the company of Audley Harrison two things become abundantly clear: This is a man who settles for nothing other than perfection and if eating were an Olympic sport, Harrison would be in with a chance of adding to the heavyweight gold he won in Sydney a decade ago. Halfway through a [...]
Face it, trader: Santa does not exist November 7, 2010 THERE is consensus among sane-minded adults that Santa Claus does not exist. We have – just about – come to terms with the fact that there is no jolly red-suited fellow that wriggles down the chimney and fills our stockings each year. Yet strangely there are still traders who believe in his stock market rally. [...]
Selfridges profit boosted November 7, 2010 UPMARKET department store Selfridges broke through the £100m profit level last year as wealthy tourists kept the tills ringing. Figures due to be filed at Companies House this week will show a trading profit of £107m for last year, which was the store’s 100th year of trading. The figures are up 21 per cent from [...]
Retail therapy addiction will hold up in 2011 November 7, 2010 BRITISH consumers are to continue spending unfazed in 2011, despite government cutbacks and higher taxes, according to research by auditing firm BDO. The firm’s Retail Forecasts 2011 report calls the UK consumer a “curious beast” unable to kick an “addiction to shopping” despite speculation about a double dip recession. The report uses a monthly high [...]
Tube strikes caused major delays but failed to paralyse London yesterday November 3, 2010 A THIRD wave of tube strikes failed to paralyse the capital yesterday as London Underground maintained around 40 per cent of trains despite the walkout. Speculation that another strike will take place over Christmas and New Year eased after the Transport Salaried Staffs Association said they will not recommend the action to its members. Some [...]
Alliance Boots predicts strong Xmas as acquisitions boost half year figures November 3, 2010 ALLIANCE Boots said it was expecting a Christmas trade boost from its new ranges while acquisitions had ensured solid half-year figures. The company’s same-store revenues for its health and beauty division grew by two per cent to £3.4bn, it reported yesterday. Revenues for the whole group rose by six per cent to £8.9bn. Finance director [...]