The Co-operative steals supermarket crown as strongest non-discounter, according to Kantar figures – as grocery sector boosted by New Year healthkicks February 9, 2016 The UK's struggling grocery sector has been given a shot in the arm from shoppers on a health kick, with sales up 0.2 per cent as consumers seek out fresh foods. The Co-operative was the fastest growing supermarket, outside of the discounters, in the 12 weeks to 31 January – the first time it can claim [...]
Jobs in tech are the most recession-proof February 9, 2016 Some jobs are more recession-proof than others, but it's jobs in technology which suffered least during the recession as wages in the sector grew more than any other. Wages have rocketed 82 per cent since 2002, rising £15bn in real terms, according to calculations of official figures. Travel agents were the least recession-proof job, with the wage bill plummeting by more than [...]
UK retail sales climbed in January, according to data from the British Retail Consortium and KPMG February 9, 2016 British retailers enjoyed some therapy last month as shoppers cast off the January blues and returned to the high street, according to new figures out today. UK retail sales rose by 2.6 per cent on a like-for-like basis from January 2015, when they had increased 0.2 per cent from the preceding year, according to figures from the [...]
Marks and Spencer is narrowing the gap with high street rival Next, says Moody’s February 8, 2016 Marks & Spencer is closing in on its high street rival Next after boosting the profitability in its troubled clothing business by bringing more of its design in house and sourcing directly from suppliers, according to analysts at credit ratings agency Moody’s. In a note published the morning, Moody’s said Next’s credit profile is stronger [...]
Clothing retailers bounce back in January as consumer spending returns to eight-month high February 8, 2016 Consumer spending returned to an eight month high in January as the freezing temperatures and discounts drove more shoppers to the high street to stock up on winter clothing. Spending rose by 2.7 per cent year-on-year in January from a 2.2 per cent rise in December and was the highest growth rate since May 2014, [...]
Rangers shareholder Kieran Prior urges chairman Dave King to fight Mike Ashley over Sports Direct retail deal February 6, 2016 Rangers shareholder Kieran Prior, a former Goldman Sachs trader with a reported IQ of 234, has urged club chairman Dave King to continue his legal battle with Mike Ashley's Sports Direct. Prior believes King should seek to terminate the Rangers Retail joint venture with Sports Direct in court as soon as possible, should the FTSE [...]
High street sales bounce back in January – but only in first two weeks as shoppers go bargain hunting February 5, 2016 High street sales bounced back in January after a disappointing Christmas when sales recorded their worst performance for December since 2008. Like-for-like sales grew by 1.4 per cent year-on-year sales in January, mainly driven by a strong performance in the first two weeks when consumers shopping the sales came out in force, according to BDO’s high street [...]
Ralph Lauren shares plunge as luxury fashion group slashes forecasts, blaming mild weather February 4, 2016 Ralph Lauren shares have plummeted by nearly 18 per cent after the US fashion brand reported a worse-than-expected decline in third quarter sales, blaming the mild winter weather and fewer tourists visiting its stores. The luxury goods group, whose brands include Polo Ralph Lauren and Club Monaco, said net revenues fell by four per cent, or one [...]
Sofa-maker DFS sitting comfortably as sales jump February 4, 2016 Sofa chain DFS furniture said it remained on track to hit full-year profit expectations after a jump in the sales in the first half of the year. The Doncaster-based firm, which also trades as Dwell and Sofa Workshop, said all of its brands performed well in the 26 weeks to 30 January, with sales up [...]
Sainsbury’s bid for Argos parent company Home Retail Group is baffling investors: Mike Coupe must explain the maths behind the deal February 4, 2016 "When my information changes, I change my mind. What do you do?” This old quotation (which may or may not have been uttered by economist John Maynard Keynes) came to mind yesterday when investment giant Old Mutual said it would accept Sainsbury’s 161.3p per share offer for Home Retail Group, despite previously arguing that any [...]