Following the release of the Office for National Statistics’ retail sales for March 2026: Emily Scott, Retail Analyst at GlobalData, a leading intelligence and productivity platform, offers her view: “ONS’ latest data shows that UK retail had a decent March 2026, with total sales excluding fuel (seasonally adjusted to account for the move of Easter […]

Following the confirmation from Associated British Foods (ABF) on the demerger of Primark from its food business before the end of 2027; Sharon Iles, Senior Apparel Analyst at GlobalData, a leading intelligence and productivity platform, comments: “The demerger is a logical structural move, but it comes with risks, especially at a time when consumer sentiment […]

The launch of Joybuy in the UK and five other European countries marks the latest Chinese entry into the European e-commerce market, alongside players like Shein and Temu, with the JD.com-owned marketplace seeking to challenge Amazon’s ever-tightening grip on online markets. To gain a foothold in the market, JD.com will need to leverage its core […]

Ahead of UK Mother’s Day on 15 March 2026, more consumers plan to celebrate, but most intend to stick to what they spent last year – around £50. The proportion of UK consumers intending to buy, or who have already purchased, at least one item has edged up slightly to 57%, yet shoppers will be […]

Subdued consumer confidence and persistent high inflation are continuing to shape the UK apparel market, constraining discretionary spend and accelerating a shift toward value-oriented and online channels. The market remained subdued through 2025 with only cautious signs of recovery, as shoppers prioritized convenience, versatility, and trend-led value. In this environment, Shein and Adidas are forecast […]

Marks & Spencer’s distinctive own-brand ranges ensured it ranked as the UK’s most trusted retailer in 2025 despite cyberattack woes*. The difficulty shoppers faced in finding comparable alternatives elsewhere during the outage reinforced perceptions that Marks & Spencer offers products that are genuinely hard to replace.  By restoring service and offering customers discounts in the […]

Following the news that Card Factory issued a major profit warning that saw its shares drop 22% in early trading; Zoë Mills, Lead Retail Analyst at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, offers her view: “Despite its value focus, Card Factory operates in a discretionary market, and UK consumers are deprioritising cards amid a […]

The UK retail parks market is forecast to be worth almost £64 billion by 2029. It is expected to be the fastest-growing retail location over the next five years (with retail spend rising 13.7% between 2024 and 2029) due to the appealing mix of value players and essential products. Retailers and property management firms alike […]