Skip to content
Search
AI Powered
Latest Stories

Retail sales in Northern Ireland rose for first time in four months during November: Survey

Retail sales in Northern Ireland witnessed a rise for the first time in four months during November, according to an Ulster Bank survey.

Ulster Bank's purchasing managers index (PMI) appeared to show the £100 Spend Local scheme having an impact.


The monthly survey, which reflects the experience of 200 manufacturing, construction, retail and services firms around the north, showed the pace of business activity broadly accelerating in November.

Ulster Bank's chief economist Richard Ramsey said: "Northern Ireland saw the pace of business activity accelerate in November, but this uptick was solely down to a rebound in one sector - retail. Local retail sales rose in November for the first time in four months with the High Street Voucher Scheme undoubtedly contributing to the pick-up in demand."

Christmas shopping is also likely to be a factor for the rise in November trade.

Ramsey said that, overall, manufacturing remained the strongest performer of the four sectors monitored in the local economy, despite that industry experiencing slower rates of growth relative to October.

"Services firms, on the other hand, reported their slowest rate of expansion in business activity in eight months, and incoming orders were broadly flat, while construction firms notched up their fifth successive month of contraction in both output and orders," he added.

"Manufacturing aside, the near-term outlook for the private sector remains challenging.

"Indeed, retail's pick-up in sales in November coincides with a slump in new orders, pointing to a slowdown over the months ahead."

Under the Spend Local scheme, every adult in Northern Ireland was issued with a £100 voucher to boost the economy. Economy Minister Gordon Lyons has said some people still need to activate and use their Spend Local cards. The scheme was extended until midnight on 19 December as some people were still waiting to receive their £100.

"The scheme is boosting our economy by an extra £2m on average every single day and that is over £121m so far," he said.

"The Northern Ireland Retail Consortium has credited the scheme with boosting the number of shoppers on our High Streets to their highest levels since before the pandemic.

"While this is a clear success, it is important to me and to our businesses that every penny on every card is spent in order to maximise the impact."

More for you

​Illegal vapes

Illegal vapes seized in Swindon raids

Photo: Wiltshire Police

Five arrested after seizure of illegal vapes worth thousands of pounds in Swindon

Wiltshire Police have arrested five people and seized more than £55,000 worth of illicit vapes, tobacco and alcohol following a series of warrants in the Broadgreen area of Swindon.

In a joint operation HMRC and Trading Standards, officers executed four warrants in Manchester Road at three stores and a property on Tuesday as part of the force’s ongoing Clear Hold Build work within Broadgreen.

Keep ReadingShow less
Volumatic welcomes new FCA rules safeguarding access to cash

Volumatic welcomes new FCA rules safeguarding access to cash

As industry leaders is cash handling, Volumatic has long supported the use of cash and the importance of maintaining access to cash for both consumers and businesses. The company recognises the importance of the new set of rules created by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) two months ago, to safeguard access to cash for businesses and consumers across the UK.

Since introduction, the new rules are intended to ensure that individuals and businesses who rely on cash can continue to access it and the outcome has already sparked the creation of 15 new banking hubs across the UK, including one in Scotland, with many more to follow.

Keep ReadingShow less
Jisp unveils new NPD service

Jisp unveils new NPD service

Retail technology company Jisp has launched an NPD service as part of its new Direct to Retailer business unit.

The new NPD service will allow brands to launch or trial new products in a guaranteed number of convenience store locations, with on the ground review of execution by Jisp’s retail growth manager team, and performance data and insights deliverable through its scanning technology and back-office systems.

Keep ReadingShow less
Tesco launches price cuts in Express convenience stores
File image of Tesco Express

Tesco launches price cuts in Express convenience stores

Tesco is slashing the price of more than 222 own-brand and branded products in its Express convenience stores.

Essentials including milk, bread, pasta and coffee are included in the lines which have been reduced in price by an average of more than 10 per cent at Tesco Express stores. The retail giant has made more than 2,800 price cuts across stores in recent months. With 2,048 of convenience stores at the end of the 2023-24 financial year, Tesco aims to benefit hundreds of thousands of customers from the cheaper deals.

Keep ReadingShow less
vape and cigarette
Photo: iStock

One in five ex-smokers in England now vape, study finds


Summary
1. One in five people who have successfully quit smoking in England currently vape, with an estimated 2.2 million individuals using e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation tool.
2. The increase in vaping among ex-smokers is largely driven by the use of e-cigarettes in quit attempts, with a rise in vaping uptake among people who had previously quit smoking for many years before taking up vaping.
3. While vaping may be a less harmful option compared to smoking, there are concerns about the potential long-term implications of vaping on relapse risk and nicotine addiction. Further research is needed to assess the impact of vaping on smoking cessation outcomes.


Keep ReadingShow less