2008-07-06 23:15:20 - www.companiesandmarkets.com adds new report - UK Retail Trends 2007

www.companiesandmarkets.com/Summary-Market-Report/UK-Retail-Tren ..
Introduction

The final quarter of the calendar year is the key trading period for the majority of UK retailers. The trends that emerged during Q4 2006 are ones that will influence all retailers in 2007. This retail brief analyses trends and performances from Christmas 2006 and highlights key issues for retailers in 2007. It also includes retail and sector growth forecasts.

Scope

The briefing provides an invaluable summary of performance in Q4 2006, with retail sales per month, growth rates, volume and inflation levels. It features like-for-like performance of the major retailers during the important Christmas trading period and analyses the trends that emerged. Against this backdrop it provides spending forecasts for 2007 in retail overall, individual sectors and online, and the issues

 

 

retailers face. The briefing also includes an analysis of property issues and the effect on retailers and landlords in the light of recent casualties.

Highlights

Shoppers spent an extra £2.9bn in Q4 2006, 37.9% of the total annual growth in the sector (£7.7bn), demonstrating how important this quarter was in driving growth for the year. Inflation is returning to the market. In Q4 2005 volume drove growth, but for the first time in six years there was no deflation in Q4 2006. Food & grocery prices were the main influence on inflation, but there is strong evidence of consumers trading up to higher price points across other sectors too as they become inured to low prices. An online facility is essential. Verdict estimates that consumers used the Internet to order an extra £1bn worth of products in Q4 2006, a 40% increase on 2005. Growth in 2007 will produce an extra £4bn through online shopping and retailers who ignore this channel do so at their peril.

Reasons to Purchase

Be prepared for 2007 with this comprehensive, yet compact overview of UK retail growth, sector and channel performance and forecasts for 2007. Use insight into the environment faced by retailers in 2007 and changing buying and seasonal habits to influence developing retail strategies. Use Verdict´s analysis of the key trends in 2007 to develop the most efficient contemporary retail models and avoid the pitfalls of weak operators.