Business

Retail sales fell by 0.9% in August compared with July, figures provided by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) have revealed.

The fall is unexpected with market commentators predicting a modest rise. Figures for July showed a 1.1% growth.

However the figures represent a 2.1% rise from August 2012, when the London Olympics and Paralympics had an impact on consumer spending, and continues the underlying pattern of growth seen since April 2013, according to the ONS.

The sale of goods remains high despite the fall. The main source of upward trends in the retail...

The UK's rate of inflation for the year to August, measured by the consumer prices index (CPI), fell by 0.1% to 2.7% from the figure of 2.8% in July.

Despite the fall, the prices of goods and services continue to outstrip wages which saw an average growth of 1% for the same period.

The largest contributions to the fall in the rate came from the transport (particularly motor fuels and air transport) and clothing sectors. Clothing sales may have been boosted by summer discounting. These were partially offset by an upward contribution from furniture, household equipment and...

Finding out what your visitors really think surely has to be a good thing doesn’t it?

Here at Exeter-based GleaveMedia ( http://www.gleavemedia.co.uk ) we have considerable experience in doing just that, having just completed a major survey project for a Cornish Retail business.

They wanted to find out more about their customer base and not forgetting the customers who not only don’t use them but may or may not have even heard of them.

This project involved on site surveys in this major South West Retailer as well as surveying at local towns nearby the principal...

Watson Fuels, the Wiltshire-based fuel distributor, has today been announced as the Official Fuel Supplier to the Exeter Chiefs for the 2013/4 season as part of a year-long partnership with the Aviva Premiership rugby club. An independent and family-owned company, Watson Fuels supplies home heating oil, farm fuels, road diesel and a wide range of industrial lubricants throughout the West Country, and beyond. Founded in 1957, the firm has expanded from its origins in rural Wiltshire, and now delivers fuels and lubricants through a national network of 45 depots nationwide. Watson Fuels...