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

Nick’s experience will drive growth for our Manchester depot and Northwest customers

Nick Edwards

New manager for Hancocks in Manchester

Confectionery wholesaler Hancocks has a new manager at its Manchester store.

Nick Edwards has taken over at the helm of the store in Gorton, overseeingten staff and working closely with existing and new customers.

Keep ReadingShow less
Rachel Reeves delivers Spring Statement 2025 as retail costs rise with no relief
Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images

Spring Statement fails to address independent retailers' concern

Costs are set to continue rising amid a difficult economic outlook following the Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Spring Statement, which brought no significant change to major tax plans announced in the October budget despite urgent calls for support.

The Spring Statement released today (26) made no specific provisions for the independent retail sector, which is facing unprecedented challenges including rising business rates, an increase in employer national insurance contributions to 15 per cent above £5,000 per annum and an above-inflation increase in the minimum wage to £12.21.

Keep ReadingShow less
Dubai style chocolate bar with pistachio and knafeh, popular in UK supermarkets

Dubai style chocolate bar featuring a blend of pistachio and knafeh

iStock image

Dubai style chocolate takes UK by storm

Dubai style chocolate has taken the UK by storm with many shops stocking dupes of the popular flavour while some supermarkets are forced to impose limits on how much a shopper can buy at once.

Shoppers have been clearing the shelves of the chocolate bar which is filled with pistachio and the Arab dessert Knafeh - a shredded crispy pastry.

Keep ReadingShow less
Government tax increases on retailers impacting local businesses

Chancellor Rachel Reeves leaves 11 Downing Street to deliver her spring statement to Parliament on March 26, 2025 in London.

Photo by Peter Nicholls/Getty Images

Spring Statement: Reeves severely criticised for ignoring retail

Representatives of UK's convenience sector as well as those of independent retailers have heavily criticised Chancellor Rachel Reeves for ignoring the pleas of retail in her Spring Statement, thus pushing some local store operators towards closure.

Delivering the Spring Statement today (26), Reeves did not budge in reduction in business rate relief, National Insurance hike and in minimum wages.

Keep ReadingShow less
VApril 2025 UKVIA campaign poster promoting vaping as a quit-smoking tool
Photo: iStock

Vape awareness campaign to begin amid record-high misperceptions

VApril, the largest and most successful vape awareness campaign in the world, is returning for its eighth year amid record-high misperceptions around vaping and stop smoking tool.

Created by the UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA), the initiative comes at a critical time for the UK vaping sector, with half of smokers wrongly believing vaping is as harmful - or worse - than smoking.

Keep ReadingShow less