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.

Mar- 2021 -

24 March

Coronavirus

Gov urged to avoid fourth lockdown as Covid claims 67,000 retail jobs

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has called on the government to take “all necessary precautions” to prevent another lockdown after 67,000 retail jobs have been lost in the past year due to Covid-19. The plea comes in response to the latest ONS job figures, which also show that employment levels in the sector have dropped…
Read More »
17 March

Coronavirus

Non-essential Scottish retail to begin reopening on 5 April

First minister Nicola Sturgeon announced yesterday (16 March) that lockdown restrictions affecting some non-essential retailers will be eased as soon as next month. Garden centres, homeware stores, non-essential click-and-collect services and hairdressers will be able to reopen as soon as 5 April. Most non-essential retailers will continue to be closed…
Read More »
12 March

Economy

UK GDP shrinks 2.9% amid January lockdown

Monthly GDP fell by 2.9% in January as a national lockdown proved to impact economic activity, new data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveals. Figures released show that January’s GDP was 9.0% below the levels seen in February 2020, and 4.0% below October 2020 – the “initial recovery…
Read More »
3 March

Economy

Budget 2021: Chancellor unveils new £65bn support package

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has outlined a new £65bn support package in his March budget, confirming the decision to extend the furlough scheme until the end of September as well as new loan schemes of up to £10m for businesses. In what is Sunak’s second budget since he joined office in…
Read More »
2 March

Manufacturers

Purina to use surplus brewery grains in dog treat pilot

Purina has announced the launch of a new dog treat which is formulated with surplus grains from breweries in a bid to tackle food waste. By upcycling grains that might otherwise be left to spoil, Purina said it is able to reduce food waste, repurposing the nutritiously dense substance as…
Read More »
Feb- 2021 -

24 February

Coronavirus

Scotland to reopen non-essential retail from 26 April

First minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced that non-essential retailers in Scotland will be able to reopen from 26 April. Sturgeon outlined the country’s exit out of lockdown restrictions yesterday (23 February), giving businesses a timeframe of when they can expect to reopen. Scotland’s stay-at-home order is likely to remain in…
Read More »
17 February

Coronavirus

Scottish retailers see business rates relief extended for 12 months

Scottish retail, hospitality, leisure and aviation businesses will pay no rates throughout the next year, under new plans outlined by finance secretary Kate Forbes. The extension is part of £1.1bn consequential funding arising from UK government coronavirus spending. Forbes, who had already announced plans for a three-month extension in her…
Read More »
12 February

Economy

UK suffers record 9.9% GDP slump

GDP declined by 9.9% in 2020, a figure which is more than double of what was recorded in 2009 after the UK’s financial crisis. According to the ONS, the fall was largely due to restrictions which were in place for most of the year, forcing the economy to operate at limiting trading levels. Figures…
Read More »
11 February

Features

Can premiumisation save the petcare sector from the dog house?

We’ve always been a nation of pet lovers in the UK, but never has that been made more apparent than by the pet ownership boom we saw over lockdown. Half of all households are now home to a furry, feathered, slimy or scaly friend. They’ve become even more entwined with…
Read More »
Jan- 2021 -

21 January

Coronavirus

Chancellor considers adding furlough extension to March budget

Chancellor Rishi Sunak is reportedly considering another extension to the government’s Job retention Scheme (JRS) as it continues to try and mitigate the impact of covid-19 on the UK economy. According to Bloomberg, Sunak is considering a fifth extension to the furlough scheme that will cover roughly 5 million workers…
Read More »