All Consumer confidence articles
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Opinion‘If Burnham wants to bring down the cost of living, bring down the cost of doing business’
A raft of announcements from the new PM on issues that matter to consumers and retailers could give the industry grounds for optimism, writes George MacDonald
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NewsConsumer confidence on the up thanks to football, heatwaves and a new PM
Consumer confidence was on the rise in July, delivering the largest monthly increase since November 2023.
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NewsBaby boomer bump gives boost to consumer confidence
Consumer confidence improved for the third straight month, driven in large part by an uptick in sentiment among baby boomers.
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Opinion‘Consumers are wary of another cost-of-living crisis’
Retailers must give shoppers clear reasons to put purchases back on their lists, and review their own profit and cost structures, advises Alvarez & Marsal’s Erin Brookes
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NewsMore British retailers warn profits will fall short after Middle East conflict
A growing number of Britain’s biggest retailers are telling investors they will make less money this year than previously forecast, as rising costs and weaker demand squeeze margins across the sector.
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AnalysisSainsbury’s boss Simon Roberts says grocery inflation not as bad as feared
The CEO of Sainsbury’s says grocery inflation in the UK has not reached the levels he feared earlier in the year and calls on Andy Burnham to support food retailers.
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NewsConsumer confidence unchanged but future signs show a ‘weakening’
Consumer confidence was unchanged in the month of June, but there are warning signs of “weakening confidence”.
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AnalysisTesco boss Murphy talks softer sales, inflation and being World Cup ready
Tesco chief executive Ken Murphy shrugged off market concerns this morning after softer-than-expected first-quarter sales at Britain’s biggest retailer dented its share price.
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Chart of the WeekChart of the Week: Sunny weather boosts online shopping?
The new BRC numbers suggest retail sales grew faster than inflation in May, with year-on-year growth in non-food online sales hitting its highest rate since December, 2024
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NewsFootfall drops as heatwave keeps shoppers away
Total UK footfall decreased in May as record-breaking late spring temperatures kept customers away.
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Retail VoiceNavigating retail’s challenges: Costs, crime and changing consumer trends
Rising employment costs, fragile consumer confidence and retail crime are weighing heavily on the sector, but there are still opportunities for growth and innovation. Business insurer NFU Mutual examines the key challenges and opportunities shaping retail’s future.
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Opinion‘Consumer spending squeeze will sort the strong from the weak’
As inflationary impacts continue, retailers and FMCG brands have to work to prove they deserve a place in household spending, warns Kantar’s Jauneen Tarin
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NewsRetail sales fall in April as consumers hit by Middle East uncertainty
The ONS has reported that sales volumes fell by 1.3% month on month in April, the fastest pace in nearly a year, down from a 0.6% rise in March.
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NewsImproving consumer confidence held back by price rise fears
Consumer confidence in the economy is improving as conflict in the Middle East de-escalates, but higher prices continue to weigh on shoppers’ minds, according to the BRC-Opinium Consumer Sentiment Monitor.
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NewsRetail sales fall in April thanks to Easter timing and consumer mood
The latest BRC-KPMG retail sales monitor showed a 3% drop in retail sales versus April 2025, though the earlier Easter this year was one of the main reasons why
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Chart of the WeekChart of the Week: April not as bad as it looks, but still…
Some Easter noise continues in the first signs of how sales fared last month, but there is evidence that the conflict in the Middle East has rattled consumers and potentially slowed sales
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NewsConsumer confidence sees biggest quarterly fall since summer 2022
The PwC consumer sentiment survey showed that confidence has now hit its lowest level since autumn 2023.
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Opinion‘What a difference three months makes – and why retailers shouldn’t panic’
Back in February, I wrote that 2026 was finely balanced but that I was optimistic about UK retail. Three months on, and the picture has shifted dramatically
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Opinion‘As retailers find life a slog, roll on the World Cup’
Industry data doesn’t make pretty reading. Retailers must take opportunities where they can and make their own luck, says George MacDonald
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NewsConsumer confidence ‘deteriorating sharply’ as energy crisis continues
GfK’s headline consumer confidence measure fell by four points in April to -25, hitting its lowest level since October 2023