Future Retirement Success
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Investing
  • Stocks
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Investing
  • Stocks

Future Retirement Success

Business

Optimism is rising as retailers bounce back

by March 28, 2023
March 28, 2023
Optimism is rising as retailers bounce back

Retailers are becoming more optimistic about their near-term trading outlook after a “challenging winter”.

For the first time since last September, a majority expect their sales to rise over the next month, according to the latest distributive trends survey from the CBI.

Of the 135 companies polled by the business organisation, a net balance of 9 per cent predict an increase in their sales during April. For the previous five months that reading had been negative.

Despite the gloominess hanging over the economy, shops generally have fared better in recent months than some analysts had feared. Retailers’ sales in March have held steady, with the poll’s headline sales volumes measure registering a positive level of 1 per cent, much better than the -6 per cent that economists had forecast.

Shops reported that their sales had been good for the time of year, with a net balance of 12 per cent saying trading had exceeded seasonal norms. Of those surveyed, a net 13 per cent expect that trend to continue in April. Economists noted that the average reading for this poll over the past 35 years had been -2 per cent.

Retailers have placed about the same number of orders with their suppliers in March as they did in the same month last year, a marked improvement from February, when orders were sharply lower. Wholesale volumes are also higher year-on-year this month and are expected to remain broadly unchanged in April.

“It’s encouraging that activity in the retail sector showed signs of stabilising after a challenging winter,” Martin Sartorius, the CBI’s principal economist, said. “This resilience has helped to inspire some spring shoots of optimism.”

Samuel Tombs, chief UK economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, the consultancy, said the survey data “suggests that a gradual recovery in retail sales is beginning to take hold”, but he added that a more significant recovery in sales was still some time away.

The CBI’s latest survey revealed that internet sales have fallen at a firm pace again in March, although they are expected to rebound slightly in April. Sales at car dealerships, which had been under pressure, have stabilised in recent weeks, although they are expected to decline again next month.

The retail industry, like other sectors, has been struggling to fill job vacancies. Sartorius said the chancellor’s decision to increase support for occupational health and to expand childcare provision would help shops to recruit staff. However, he told the government that “more needs to be done”. One of the CBI’s suggestions is that the government reforms the apprenticeship levy and turns it into a “more flexible skills challenge fund”.

Read more:
Optimism is rising as retailers bounce back

0
FacebookTwitterGoogle +Pinterest
previous post
Royal Mail bosses threaten to declare insolvency as pay talks near collapse
next post
Members of ‘pension liberation scheme’ lose tax case

You may also like

The Crucial Role of Criminal Record Checks for...

February 8, 2024

Retail boss reveals plans to re-open 50 Wilko...

November 29, 2023

Wickes Ventures into Solar Panel Sector with Acquisition

March 20, 2024

US economy shrinks for first time since 2022...

May 1, 2025

Family businesses face £1.4bn tax blow as Labour...

July 16, 2024

How To Choose An Investment Trust Company

December 18, 2023

How To Unblock And Access Roobet From Anywhere...

March 28, 2023

UK Esports team wins £7.4m in video game...

November 1, 2022

Britain loses 6,000 retail outlets in five years...

July 28, 2023

Ex-England Footballer Emile Heskey Ordered to Pay £200k...

June 4, 2024

    Get free access to all of the retirement secrets and income strategies from our experts! or Join The Exclusive Subscription Today And Get the Premium Articles Acess for Free

    By opting in you agree to receive emails from us and our affiliates. Your information is secure and your privacy is protected.

    Recent Posts

    • Musk feud presents ‘unprecedented’ dynamic compared to past Trump disputes: expert

      June 7, 2025
    • Snub of Musk’s NASA nominee ally preceded sudden ‘big, beautiful bill’ criticism, Trump feud

      June 6, 2025
    • Supreme Court rules DOGE can access Social Security information

      June 6, 2025
    • US sanctions money laundering network aiding Iran as regime faces nuclear reprimand at IAEA

      June 6, 2025
    • From Tariffs to Tech: Where Smart Money’s Moving Right Now

      June 6, 2025
    • Your Weekly Stock Market Snapshot: What It Means for Your Investments

      June 6, 2025

    Categories

    • Business (8,149)
    • Investing (2,019)
    • Politics (15,556)
    • Stocks (3,134)
    • About us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions

    Disclaimer: futureretirementsuccess.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

    Copyright © 2025 futureretirementsuccess.com | All Rights Reserved