Economy
Economic conditions have a direct impact on consumer spending, supply chain costs, and trading performance across the UK pet industry. Pet Gazette tracks how inflation, interest rates, labour shortages, and broader macroeconomic pressures affect pet retailers, wholesalers, and brand distributors. Coverage includes commentary on pet sector resilience during downturns, price sensitivity among shoppers, and shifts in demand for premium vs value ranges. We also report on government economic policy, retail footfall data, and financial forecasts relevant to pet businesses navigating changing market conditions.
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May- 2020 -11 MayRetailers
Trouble ahead for retail vacancy rates, warns BRC
Theย Britishย Retail Consortium (BRC) and Local Data Company has said the new BRC-LDC Vacancy Monitor has revealed that the rate of store vacancies increased to 12.2% in March. The monitor also reported a 0.3% decrease in vacancy rates in shopping centres to 14.1% compared with 14.4%. The South West and Wales…
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11 MayFeatures
Six weeks with Walter: What lockdown with my dog has taught me
When the UK went into lockdown six weeks ago, I, like many others, settled down for an extended period of time at home with a pet – in my case, a five-year-old Miniature Schnauzer called Walter. Lockdown hasnโt been easy for Walter. Heโs a real family dog – by that…
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1 MayBusiness Bites
Are we beginning to re-open anyway?
The PM says he will soon announce the reopening plan after weeks of compulsory lockdown for the UKs public and its businesses. Boris Johnson is under pressure to come up with the blueprint for restarting the economy as the list of suffering firms grows larger and more and more redundancies…
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Apr- 2020 -28 AprilCoronavirus
UK economy not expected to recover until 2023, study suggests
The UKโs economy is not expected to return to normal until 2023 due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new report issued by economic forecasting group EY Item Club. The group has warned that it is likely to take three years for the UK economy to return to the…
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28 AprilBusiness Bites
Job support to be wound down, M&S dividend suspended, ventilator production slows, property market halts
Chancellor Rishi Sunack says he will wean the economy off his support schemes in a โgradualโ wind-down, to help prevent soaring unemployment on โexpiration dayโ. His announcement, made to MPs, came in response to concerns that a definite cut-off date would produce an explosion in redundancies and layoffs. Currently, the…
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27 AprilCoronavirus
ONS suspends โHigh Demand Basketโ survey data
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has revealed that its increasing costs of online pet food has been suspended due to issues with the data collected. The โHigh Demand Basketโ survey revealed a 3.1% increase in price for the two weeks between 16-22 March and 23-29 March, with an average…
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27 AprilIndustry News
Online pet store triples workforce
PetShop.co.uk revealed it has tripled its workforce in light of a rising demand for online pet products amid the ongoing pandemic. The online retailer, based in Stratford-upon-Avon, said that the nationwide lockdown has led to a 300% increase in sales from owners who need pet food delivered to their homes.ย …
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27 AprilBusiness Bites
Lockdown to persist says Johnson, clergy weigh in on behaviour of corona-corporations
The PM is back at his desk and says the lockdown must continue for the foreseeable future, and it would be premature to consider lifting now. After having been struck down with COVID-19 himself – and ending up in intensive care – the premier has finally convalesced and spoke from…
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24 AprilBusiness Bites
Retail landlords reined in, France gets touch on tax havens, and insurers face biggest ever payouts
The government has banned landlords from using winding-up orders against their retail tenants, after aggressive rent collection tactics which threaten the future of retail businesses came to light. Tens of thousands of businesses in both retail and hospitality have found themselves unable to keep up with their rent during the…
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24 AprilCoronavirus
Government introduces new measures to protect high street
The business secretary has announced a new set of measures that will be introduced to protect high street businesses โunder strainโ from the ongoing pandemic.ย High street shops, and other companies facing financial difficulties, will now be protected from โaggressiveโ rent collection and asked to pay what they can as…
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