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.

Feb- 2015 -

23 February

Economy

Tom Davis

CBI: Surprise dip in retail sales growth

Retail sales growth practically ground to a halt in February, according to the CBI’s latest quarterly Distributive Trades Survey. The survey of 138 firms including 62 retailers showed that both volume of retail sales and orders failed to meet expectations of growth in February, following six months of buoyant sales.…
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Jan- 2015 -

29 January

Economy

Michael Northcott

Balance of 39% of retailers report sales growth in January

The proportion of retail sectors reporting sales growth in January was a balance of +39%, according to the latest data from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). The CBI’s Distributive Trades Survey, which polled 127 UK retailers, found that volumes grew faster than expected, partly driven by the strongest rise…
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12 January

Economy

Tom Davis

‘Promising’ year ahead for shop vacancy rates

Britain’s shop vacancy rate dropped to 13.2% in December while the overall retail and leisure vacancy rate remained at 11.8%, according to the latest figures. Analysis of vacancy rates by occupation type by the Local Data Company showed that leisure vacancy in December was 7.8%, and all (Retail and Leisure)…
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Oct- 2014 -

27 October

Economy

Michael Northcott

High street sales growth ‘remains robust’

Retail sales volumes continued to grow in the year to October, with another strong rise expected in the month ahead, according to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). The body’s latest monthly Distributive Trades Survey of 124 firms showed a third successive month of firmly above-average sales growth. But sales growth…
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21 October

Economy

Tom Davis

Consumer confidence hits three year high

Consumer confidence in Quarter 3 has reached its highest level in three years according to the latest Deloitte Consumer Tracker. According to the research Consumers’ confidence regarding their disposable income, level of debts and job progression has all increased. Overall consumer confidence is three percentage points higher than the same…
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8 October

Economy

Tom Davis

Shop prices remains deflationary for 17th month: BRC

Overall shop prices reported deflation for the seventeenth consecutive month, accelerating to 1.8% in September from 1.6% in August. This is according to the BRC-Nielsen Shop Price Index in which non-food industries (including clothing and footwear) reported acceleration in deflation of 3.2% in September from 2.9% in August. Helen Dickinson,…
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Sep- 2014 -

22 September

Trade Organisations

Tom Davis

BRC responds to Miliband’s proposals on business rates

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has today responded to proposals on business rates from the Labour party leader, Ed Miliband. Miliband has announced a 1% cut in business rates if labour is in power after the 2015 election. The move would involve reversing the inflation-linked increase scheduled for April 2015…
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17 September

Economy

Tom Davis

Global diamond demand reaches record levels, says De Beers

Global demand for diamond jewellery reached a record high of $79bn (£48bn) in 2013, according to the inaugural Diamond Insight Report published today by De Beers. However the report claims that “substantial investment will be required in diamond production, technology, and branding, marketing and retail standards” if the industry is…
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4 September

Economy

Michael Northcott

Economic recovery solid, but growth ‘will even out’: CBI

The UK economic recovery is on solid ground but growth will even out in the second half of 2014 and into next year, the CBI said in its latest economic forecast. The UK’s leading business group forecasts 3.0% growth in 2014 and 2.7% in 2015, unchanged from May. Between the…
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Jul- 2014 -

11 July

Opinion

Michael Northcott

COMMENT: Rising hallmarking figures are great news but the party may be short-lived

By Scott Thompson, founder and CEO of Carat* There is growing evidence that many parts of the UK are coming out of the great recession. I am pleased that many of my colleagues and friends in the jewellery industry are sounding more upbeat. However there is a risk that the…
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