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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Oct- 2017 -19 OctoberEconomy
UK retail sales growth slows more than expected
UK retail sales growth slowed more than predicted in the month of September, according to the Office of National Statistics (ONS). The figures showed that total sales fell by 0.8% when compared with August, making it much lower than the 0.1% drop that was expected. Year-on-year retail growth for Q3…
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Aug- 2017 -3 AugustEconomy
Demand in gold jewellery grows in Q2
The demand for gold jewellery pieces has grown in Q2 of 2017, despite a decline in global gold demand. Jewellery demand increased by 8% from 447 tonnes (t) in 2016 to 481t this year, but fell short of the long-term average. India was the main contributor to the gain in…
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2 AugustAppointments
EDITOR’S COMMENT: What now for the CMJ?
Much ink has been spilled by the trade press over the sudden and barely explicated departure of Willie Hamilton, the polarising chief executive of the Company of Master Jewellers. Apart from those at the top, it would seem nobody knew he was about to vacate his post, and those in…
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Jul- 2017 -28 JulyEconomy
Summer sunshine boosts retail sales
Retail sales growth picked up in the year to July, exceeding expectations for minimal growth, according to the latest monthly CBI Distributive Trades Survey. The survey of 111 firms, of which 57 were retailers, showed that the volume of sales grew at a healthy pace – driven by grocery and…
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Jun- 2017 -30 JuneEconomy
Significant rise in business confidence
Overall business confidence has risen significantly since the start of the year, according to Lloyds Bank. The latest Business in Britain report from Lloyds Bank, based on data gathered after the snap election was called, showed that the confidence level had increased by 24%. The confidence index – an average…
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7 JuneEconomy
Businesses unable to cope with interest increases, research shows
One in 25 businesses would be unable to pay off its debts if the interest rates were to increase, research from insolvency trade body R3 has shown. Some 79,000 (4%) UK companies said that a small increase would affect them financially, almost a quadrupling (20,000) of figures from previous research…
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Apr- 2017 -21 AprilRetailers
UK retail sales drop as inflation rises
UK retail sales dropped by 1.8% in March marking the largest year on year decline since 2010 and exceeding economists’ predictions of a 0.5% decline. Coinciding with the rise of inflation, the volume of goods sold in store and online fell 1.4% in the first quarter of the year. The…
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18 AprilEconomy
London leads European retail market for third consecutive year
Central London remains the retail market leader in Europe according to a report from global real estate advisors, Colliers International. The report said its ongoing success is due to greater numbers of Britons and tourists spending more in the capital than any other market. The figures showed that London had…
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10 AprilEconomy
Retail footfall expected to grow 5.4% over Easter weekend
Retail footfall in the UK is set to increase 5.4% over the Easter weekend, according to retail expert Springboard. The prediction comes after March retail footfall results showed there was a year-on-year increase of 1.2%. This increase broke the six-month consecutive decline. The projected increase was said to be a…
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7 AprilRetailers
UK retailers fail to lift sales despite higher footfall
Despite positive footfall levels in March, sales for UK retailers failed to grow. According to accountancy firm BDO’s High Street Sales Tracker (HSST), UK retailers have failed to grow sales for the fourth month in a row, with like-for-like sales flat (0%) in March despite warmer weather and Mother’s day…
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