Economy
The economy has a direct influence on the UK jewellery trade, affecting consumer spending, material costs, and business confidence across the sector. For jewellers, manufacturers, and suppliers, staying informed on economic trends is vital to planning and resilience. Jewellery Focus provides expert coverage of economic developments impacting the trade, including inflation, interest rates, consumer confidence, and supply chain challenges. Our reporting helps jewellery professionals understand the wider market forces shaping their business environment.
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Apr- 2018 -3 AprilRetailers
21,000 retail jobs lost or threatened so far this year
Over 21,000 jobs have been axed or put at risk in the first three months of the year as retailers struggle to break even. A Press Association analysis revealed that 21,413 staff members have already been made redundant or had their role threatened, with the majority being from large high-street…
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Mar- 2018 -7 MarchFeatures
Is silversmithing at risk?
โIt has become very difficult for many silversmithing workshops to find new staff todayโ, says silversmith Richard Fox. He says this is because large UK large workshops have closed down, changing the environment and leaving smaller atelier sized firms that โhaven’t got enough resourcesโ to take on and train new…
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6 MarchRetailers
Consumer spending on โnon-essentialsโ increases
According to Barclaycard February 2018 saw increased sales of non-essentials, as consumers continued to prioritise their spending on the โexperience economyโ. Data from the group also revealed supermarket spending (3.2%) returned to levels previously seen over the past six months, after a spike of 4.4% in January 2018. Entertainment performed…
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Feb- 2018 -13 FebruaryInternational
De Beers to sell Elizabeth Bay mine
Namdeb, a 50/50 partnership between diamond giant De Beers Group and the Namibian government, has announced it is seeking a buyer for its Elizabeth Bay mine in Namibia. The mine, which was commissioned in 1991 and is located near the town of Lรผderitz, employs around 160 people and produced around…
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7 FebruaryInternational
Israel Diamond exchange launches new Diamond Tech innovation centre
The Israel Diamond Exchange (IDE) has launched a new innovation centre, Diamond Tech, to host and support diamond related startup companies. Located within the IDE complex, the centre will help IDE promote new technologies that will bring added value to the diamond industry as well as to other sectors. Carats.Io,…
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6 FebruaryRetailers
Consumer spending grows 3.9% in January
Consumer spending increased 3.9% in January, partially driven by price increases that continued to drive uplifts in โessentialโ spending. That is according to data from Barclaycard, which processes nearly half of the nationโs credit and debit card transactions. Spending growth on day-to-day necessities surpassed 4% for the first time in…
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Nov- 2017 -23 NovemberCurrent Affairs
Retail associations respond to โencouragingโ Autumn Budget
A number of retail associations have responded positively to the Chancellorโs Budget which was revealed yesterday (22 November). The British Retail Consortium (BRC) and NFU Mutual reacted to the announcement that the move from RPI to CPI indexation will be brought forward by two years to 2018, allowing for a…
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8 NovemberEconomy
Spending growth slows to 2.4% as consumers feel โinflation squeezeโ
Consumer spending growth slowed to 2.4% year-on-year in October which, with inflation at 3%, equated to a contraction in real terms. Brits cut back across the board to cope with their diminished spending power, and in anticipation of a potential interest rate hike. Data from Barclaycard revealed that spending on…
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Oct- 2017 -25 OctoberEditor's Blog
Fighting back against the algorithms
Now that the show season has cooled down, we head into the final quarter of the year, and begin gearing up for the Christmas sales period. The retail landscape remains challenging, but the UK economy continues to hold up in reasonable condition, and there are some significant reasons to be…
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23 OctoberCelebrities
Fit for a Disney princess: F Hinds values character rings
From Aladdin and Jasmine, to Cinderella and Prince Charming, marriage is at the heart of most Disney films. But which Disney princess boasts the most expensive engagement ring, and which settled for the more modest option? Using real life valuations at todayโs prices, jewellery retail chain F Hinds has estimated…
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