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.

Oct- 2021 -

14 October

Current Affairs

Over 40 employee groups pen letter urging Sunak to cut business rates

The CBI, along with 41 trade associations spanning the UK economy, have issued a joint statement urging the chancellor Rishi Sunak to reform the business rates system and “unleash a wave of business investment across key government priorities, including net zero and levelling up”. The joint statement from businesses is…
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Aug- 2021 -

24 August

Retailers

BPF calls for business rates reform

The British Property Federation (BPF) has called on the government to set out a roadmap to annually revalue business rates in a bid to avoid “crippling” high streets, citing that a business rates reform is “long overdue”. It comes as the government’s Business Rates Revaluations Consultation, proposing to introduce more…
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12 August

Economy

UK economy surges 4.8% in June

The UK economy grew by 4.8% in June as Covid-19 restrictions surrounding retail and leisure were eased across the UK, according to figures published by the Office of National Statistics (ONS). Gross domestic product (GDP) is estimated to have grown for a fifth consecutive month in June 2021, by 1.0%,…
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10 August

Coronavirus

Bira in talks with metro mayors to help retailers post-pandemic

The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) has said it is involved in discussions with mayors of UK metropolitan cities to discuss “new ways” of supporting independent retailers post-pandemic. The talks, which are being led by the group’s CEO Andrew Goodacre, have been looking at support for reforms to business rates…
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Jul- 2021 -

13 July

Economy

UK retail sales jump 13.1% in June

Total retail sales in the UK increased by 13.1% in June, according to the latest BRC-KPMG retail sales monitor. On a like-for-like basis, the country’s retail sales rose by 17% from June 2019, with non-food reporting a like-for-like sales jump of 47%. In the nation’s high street stores, sales were…
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12 July

Trade Organisations

Footfall flatlines in June

Footfall from shoppers in the UK plateaued despite social distancing restrictions remaining largely the same, according to new data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC). The latest Footfall Monitor from BRC and Sensormatic found that overall footfall in the UK dropped by 27.6% in June compared to the same month…
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Jun- 2021 -

15 June

Manufacturers

Sniffers moves into new premises amid surge in demand

Sniffers Pet Care has announced it is moving into larger premises and expanding its workforce amid a surge in demand for its pet products. The group will move to a new 22,500 sq ft premises at the Lowfields Business Park, Elland, this month, while director Simon Brown said three roles…
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May- 2021 -

21 May

Economy

Consumer confidence jumps six points in May

Consumer confidence in the UK has increased by six points to -9 in May 2021, according to GfK’s Consumer Confidence Index. The market research company primarily attributed this to the easing of lockdown restrictions and vaccine rollout, which it believes gave the country’s retail sector a much-needed boost. While respondents…
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13 May

Economy

Pet stores report strongest April sales growth, Barclaycard finds

Pet stores and veterinarians saw the strongest sales growth out of any retail group in the specialist retailer category, according to Barclaycard’s report into consumer spending in April. Both vets and pet stores posted a 32.4% rise in sales over the period, compared to two years ago. In comparison, the…
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Apr- 2021 -

28 April

Economy

Shop prices fall in April as non-essential retailers reopen

UK shop prices continued to drop in April as non-essential retailers reopened after lockdown, according to the BRC-Nielsen shop price index. In order to entice consumers, retailers decreased shop prices by 1.3% over the period, compared to the previous drop of 2.4% in March. However, the fall in non-food prices…
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