More finance – Page 19
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Data
UK consumers boosted by ‘sudden flowering of optimism’
The GfK Consumer Confidence Index increased six points to -30 in April compared with last month – a 20-point recovery since January this year.
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Opinion‘Shoppers are unlikely to feel giddy with delight when inflation falls to “only” 9%’
A fall in the rate of inflation this week proved more insipid than had been hoped for, but had it been bigger there would hardly have been cause for breaking out the champagne.
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InterviewMarks Electrical boss Mark Smithson on keeping its edge in a difficult market
The electricals sector has faced tough challenges amid the cost-of-living crisis, high inflation and a poor macroeconomic environment since Covid-19 but for Marks Electrical, the past few years have meant revenue growth and soaring sales.
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Opinion‘CEOs face the challenge of staying true to a long-term vision amid uncertainty’
Ahead of the World Retail Congress, Spencer Stuart’s Sally Elliott assesses the changing demands on retail chief executives and how effective succession planning can best position companies for success
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Opinion‘As Shein ponders IPO, is the “next Shein” already coming up the inside track?’
A Shein IPO would be testament to a retailer built at warp speed to gargantuan scale, but in current conditions investors may question how strong its prospects are as established digital giants retrench and new competitors emerge.
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AnalysisRetail Horizon: Winners will balance retail detail with the big picture
Our mid-year update to Retail Horizon 2023 – presented for the first time at Retail Week Live – explores the key trends shaping the retail sector.
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AnalysisLord Wolfson poses ‘the big question’ for Next’s long-term future
Next chief executive Lord Wolfson this week asked the provocative question of whether the business should now be seen as mature or if it still has strong growth prospects. Here are the takeaways from the bellwether retailer’s full-year results
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DataConsumer pain increases as grocery inflation hits record high
Grocery price inflation reached a new high in March, with consumers now facing an £837 increase in their annual bills.
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DataConsumer confidence inches up but ‘cost-of-living crisis remains stark reality’
UK consumer confidence has jumped by two points in the month of March, though the outlook remains gloomy.
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Opinion‘A stake sale would risk turning John Lewis into AN Other retailer’
Annual losses of £234m, no staff bonus, the spectre of more job losses looming – no wonder the John Lewis Partnership is considering whether its traditional way of doing things needs to change.
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AnalysisAfter ‘inflation hurricane’ hits, cost cutting is king at John Lewis
“Inflation has hit us like a hurricane” was the stark verdict from John Lewis Partnership chair Dame Sharon White as the retail institution slid to a £234m pre-tax loss.
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Opinion‘How to recover cost inflation while continuing to offer value to customers’
Grocers must walk a tightrope of managing their own inflationary pressures to preserve margins while continuing to win customers, says Alvarez & Marsal’s Erin Brookes
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AnalysisInditex vs H&M: Which fashion giant will win in five years’ time?
Fashion icons H&M and Inditex each boast a wealth of brands, booming online propositions, slick apps and cutting-edge stores. But which will be the winner in our five-year forecast?
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DataShop price inflation reaches record highs for the second time this year
The BRC-Nielsen Shop Price Index has revealed that inflation has reached yet another high across all categories for the second time this year.
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DataConsumer confidence inches up but ‘too early to talk about green shoots’
The GfK consumer confidence index increased by seven points to -38 in February in a surprise rebound after languishing at historic lows.
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Opinion‘Does Tile Giant administration signal the end of the DIY boom?’
After a phenomenally busy period when everybody became Handy Andy or Andrea and painted the walls rather than climbed them during the depressing days of lockdowns, things are looking trickier as the consumer mentality shifts from DIY to done-IY.
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AnalysisHow Dunelm is making itself at home in a volatile market
Homeware and furniture retailer Dunelm’s total sales are 43% higher than they were pre-pandemic in the first half of 2020. So what is it doing to deliver growth when its rivals have struggled?
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DataRanking: Who will be the biggest retailers in the UK in 2026?
Offering a glimpse of what lies ahead, Retail Week analysts reveal which retailers will sit at the top of the food chain in 2026, which will be overtaken by their closest rivals and which will lose their spot in the ranking altogether
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AnalysisAnalysis: Where next for Amazon as profits slump and sales stall?
While revenue growth continues and expectations continue to be exceeded, seemingly all is not well at Amazon. With jobs being slashed and profits falling, where next for retail’s biggest giant?
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AnalysisSupermarket own-label: Will shoppers stay loyal when the cost-of-living crisis is over?
Own-label has amassed serious growth during the cost-of-living crisis but when the country gains a more economically stable footing, will the boom last?