Inflation
Inflation has significant implications for the UK jewellery trade, affecting everything from raw material costs to consumer spending habits. For jewellers, suppliers, and manufacturers, understanding how inflation influences pricing, margins, and operational decisions is critical to staying resilient in a shifting economic climate. Jewellery Focus provides expert coverage on inflation trends, market analysis, and insights into strategies trade professionals are adopting to mitigate its impact across the supply chain and retail sector.
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Apr- 2018 -9 AprilRetailers
Small firms hit by pension auto-enrolment scheme, claims FSB
Small firms and startups will be โhit the very hardestโ by the doubling of auto-enrolment employer pension contributions, according to the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). From 6 April 2018, the minimum amount employers must by law pay into workplace pensions increased by 2% of qualifying earnings, whilst staff contribute…
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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 -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 -22 FebruaryTrade Organisations
Two Hong Kong jewellery trade shows to open next week
Two major jewellery trade shows organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) will be opening next week. The fifth Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem and Pearl Show, which specialises in loose stones and raw materials for jewellery, will be held from 27 February to 3 March at AsiaWorld-Expo.…
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12 FebruaryRetailers
Retail footfall takes a hit with Scotland showing sharpest decline
Footfall in January decreased by 1.6% year-on-year, showing a deeper decrease than the rate seen for January 2017, according to new figures. New British Retail Consortium (BRC) data showed a drop in footfall across all UK regions, with the sharpest decline being seen in Scotland (4.6 %). Despite footfall falling…
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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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Jan- 2018 -23 JanuaryE-Commerce
Online retail shows signs of maturing with tough 2018 ahead, says IMRG
The rate of retail sales growth is pointing to a โmaturing marketโ, figures from the IMRG Capgemini e-Retail Sales Index suggest. UK online retail sales were up 12.1% on average year-on-year (YoY) in 2017, which was lower than the IMRGโs forecast of 14%. This figures also falls short of 2016โs…
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9 JanuaryEconomy
UK retail sales show marginal growth over Christmas
UK retail sales showed less growth over Christmas than they did last year, according to figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC). Retail sales increased by 0.6% on a like-for-like basis from December 2016, which was a decline compared to an increase of 1.0% from the preceding year. Over the…
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Dec- 2017 -22 DecemberFeatures
Is it time for jewellers to invest in cryptocurrency?
In September, diamond jeweller Samer Halimeh made the decision to start trading with cryptocurrency. Also, digital cash brand Dash has partnered with the National Association of Jewellers to specifically target the UK market. This all begs the question: is it time for jewellers to invest in cryptocurrency? What is cryptocurrency?…
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12 DecemberEconomy
Inflation rises to its highest level for six years
Inflation rose to 3.1% in the month of November, figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) have revealed. According to the Consumer Prices Index (CPI), this was up from the 3% level seen in October, and is its highest level since March 2012. More expensive recreational goods – namely…
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