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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Mar- 2018 -6 MarchRetailers
Consumer spending on ‘non-essentials’ increases
According to Barclaycard February 2018 saw increased sales of non-essentials, as consumers continued to prioritise their spending on the ‘experience economy’. 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 ‘essential’ spending. That is according to data from Barclaycard, which processes nearly half of the nation’s 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 ‘maturing market’, 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 IMRG’s forecast of 14%. This figures also falls short of 2016’s…
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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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Nov- 2017 -8 NovemberEconomy
Spending growth slows to 2.4% as consumers feel ‘inflation squeeze’
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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