Supermarkets gear up for Christmas battle
It has been revealed that Asda and Tesco have reduced the price of unleaded petrol and diesel by three pence a litre in the run-up to Christmas. While the companies remain adamant that all they are doing is passing on recent oil price reductions the fact remains that the Christmas period is one of the more vital for the UK retail sector and everybody is fighting tooth and nail to grab the attention of UK consumers.
We have seen hundreds of millions of pounds of promotions and discounts announced over the last few days and we should see many more before Christmas is upon us. Asda and Tesco have been by far and away the more aggressive in the promotions market but Morrison, soon to lose its chief executive, has grown its market share to a record level for the company. While the big boys battle it out for your attention there is no doubt that medium to smaller sized operations are struggling.
When the UK recession is finally over we may see a very different retail field to the one which entered the downturn. Medium to smaller size retail operations are falling by the wayside on a regular basis and there is growing concern about the influence and power which the "big five" supermarkets have in the UK.
Share this..
Related stories
Are People Skipping Home Insurance To Save Money?
As the economy grinds to a halt there are worrying signs that many homeowners across the UK are cutting back on their house insurance or cancelling their cover outright. More and more people are being pushed onto the poverty line and concerned how they are going to pay for the more basic items such as food and energy. Home insurance seems to be coming further and further down the list even thou...
Read MoreStocks and Shares or cash? The Junior ISA two years on.
If you’re looking to save for your child’s future, then you may be wondering what the best way to do so is. Junior ISA’s are the Governments answer to the discontinued Child Trust Fund and are an easy and very accessible way to save for your child’s future. They’re now entering their third year of existence this month, but only 300,000 out of a possible six million eligible children h...
Read MoreAlistair Darling rules out US banking style levy
As we covered yesterday, Barrack Obama has revealed plans to introduce a new levy on the US banking system purely and simply to replenish taxpayer coffers which have been emptied because of the banking rescue package in the states. While there was speculation that the UK government would look towards a similar scheme in the UK, Alistair Darling has today suggested this is not an option and not up...
Read MoreRent price inflation halts, as more people opt to buy
The increase in the number of people buying property in the UK, especially first-time buyers, has meant that the cost of renting has stopped rising as aggressively. This is according to a survey commissioned by LSL Property Services, which revealed that the average monthly bill in England and Wales is unchanged since May, and stands at £737. However the cost of renting has increased by 2.6pc...
Read MoreRoyal Bank of Scotland goes on the offensive in its homeland
It has been reported that the Royal Bank of Scotland will be offering Scottish homebuyers mortgage incentives in the region £1.7 billion to help them acquire homes during 2009. This additional funding consists of a £500 million payment from the Treasury's asset protection scheme and other government support measures which have been introduced over the last few weeks. The move is sure to catch th...
Read More