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Early forecasts suggest that the upcoming Easter weekend would meet expectations as the most anticipated weekend for retail after Christmas. There is an increase of 2.4% in footfall when compared to the same trading period last year. Footfall may take a sudden turn and retailers could suffer if snow and ice were to return. Evidence from the previous two “beasts from the east” has shown.

The forecasts comes following Springboard’s announcement that there is a decrease of 0.5% in UK retail footfall in February which was less than a third of that recorded in January which was lower than the 12 month average of -0.7%. It has provided some good news in the face of the trading challenges for retailers reported recently.

Springboard insights director Diane Wehrle the first “beast from the east” on February 25 led to 16.6% decline in footfall in all retail destinations on the week beginning.

March 1, the worst hot day saw footfall drop by as much as 36%, while the three

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), there is a drop in consumer price index to 2.7% in February, down by 3% in January and below predictions of 2.8%.
Due to a large drop in food inflation, the slowdown has eased the pressure on the cost of living to the lowest level in seven months.
In between the months of January and February food price inflation slowed to 0.1%, dropping significantly from 0.8% rise a year earlier.
Due adverse weather conditions causing a drought last February, which helped driving up the prices of vegetables.
This was offset by an increasing rise in clothing and footwear prices as there is a rise of 1.7% compared to January, up from 1.2% last year, driven by a rise in women’s shoes.
These figures have fueled economist’s speculations that inflation may have peaked as the initial cost pressure due to Brexit began to fade. “We’re now descending from the peak of inflation caused by the fall in

The development marks the Facebook owned firm’s most significant push into ecommerce since the introduction of Instagram for Business tools in 2016. It has also introduced a shoppable advert system dubbed “collection” campaigns earlier this year.
The new Shopping function provides people with a visual storefront to explore new products from the brands they love according to Instagram.
Shoppers can tap on a tagged post with easy access to pricing and product details post within their feed to buy. They can shop a specific product directly from the brand’s website, without having to search for it.
Marks & Spencer a high street giant was one among the three businesses to take part in the UK test phase of the shopping function.
“Instagram Shopping offers us the opportunity to realise the huge potential of our 760,000 followers,” M&S head of digital marketing Erin Roy said.
Instagram has always been a great platform to showcase our products an

These new laws were announced by Chancellor Philip Hammond during last year’s Autumn Budget aiming to level the playing field so high street and online retailers are not disadvantaged.
It is the responsibility of the online marketplaces to make sure sellers on their platform pay the right tax and to make sure fraud doesn’t happen.
If sellers based in UK or overseas are not paying the correct VAT when selling in UK, and if not removed from the site following the issue of a notice by HRMC, then it has the power to pursue the marketplaces themselves.
This may lead to fines and recovery of future unpaid tax by those sellers.
The rules also make online marketplaces liable for VAT. If they knew or should have known that an overseas online seller should have been VAT registered but was not.
The HRMC said there is “a clear message” sent to all retailers and other businesses in UK and overseas, online and on the high street “must all play by the sa

He announced about upgraded projections for growth, predictions of falling inflation, debt and borrowing.
Addressing various issues like facing the retail sector, including business rates, digital tax and measures to reduce plastic waste.
His speech was welcomed by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) chief executive Helen Dickinson and many other retail leaders.
“We’ve consistently called for more frequent revaluations and welcome the Chancellor’s decision to move forward the next revaluation by a year to 2021 as a step in the right direction,” she said.
“More frequent revaluations are no easy task and require strong collaboration and exchange of information jointly between the Valuation Office and ratepayers.”
Altus Group UK business rates president Alex Probyn added: “Three-year revaluation cycles are certainly workable. Whether they are entirely in the ratepayer’s interests depends on the detail.
Undoubtedly a shorter valuation period has benefits in ter

It will be co-chaired by Richard Pennycook, chairman of British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Andrew Griffiths, Conservative MP and member of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).
The council formed to work and address issues like productivity, skills shortages and adapting to changing consumer behavior.
The other members of the council include Amazon UK manager Doug Gurr, John Lewis chairman Sir Charlie Mayfield and Asos chief executive Nick Beighton.
“The first Retail Sector Council comes at a moment of unprecedented change for our sector,” Pennycook said.
Retail is one of the largest private-sector employers in the country. The council provides strategic oversight of the challenges we are facing by seeking positive change and increased productivity.
“We will work together with industry and government to deliver our vision for the future of retail.”
Griffiths added: “Our new collaborative Retail Se