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| UK retail sales fall at fastest rate in seven years as inflation bites - business live | UK retail sales fall at fastest rate in seven years as inflation bites - business live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 10.41am BST | |
| 10:41 | |
| UK growth 'to slow' after weak Q1 retail sales | |
| Those poor retail sales (down 1.8% in March, and 1.4% over the first quarter) are expected to weigh on UK growth over the first quarter. | |
| Consumer spending has been the main driver of growth since the financial crisis, but these figures suggest a growing reluctance to spend as a Brexit-related squeeze on household finances gets underway. | |
| Martin Beck, senior economic advisor to the forecasting group, the EY ITEM Club, says growth could slow to 0.4% or 0.5% in the first quarter of 2017, from 0.7% in the fourth quarter of 2016. | |
| March’s weakness was broad-based, with department stores the only major sector to see sales volumes increase on the previous month. The likely culprit for this weakness remained a familiar one – rising shop price inflation. This reached 3.3% year on year in March, a pace not matched since March 2012. | |
| With the retail sector accounting for around 5% of GDP, Q1’s decline in sales will have shaved close to 0.1 percentage points off GDP growth in that period. Combined with a poor set of macro data from other sectors, growth looks likely to have slowed from 0.7% in Q4 2016 to around 0.4-0.5%. | |
| Looking ahead, the boost to the tradable sector from the weak pound and a buoyant world economy should mitigate weakness on the consumer side. But the dominance of the latter in the economy means that a shift in the source of growth is likely to come at the price of a further slowdown in the pace of expansion. | |
| The ONS will publish the first official estimate of first-quarter growth on 28 April. | |
| 10.29am BST | |
| 10:29 | |
| Richard Lim, chief executive of Retail Economics, says Britain’s retail industry is facing a “toxic mix” of factors: | |
| This latest data shows that the surge in inflation is putting retailers under intense pressure with the first quarterly decline in retail sales since 2013. Families are facing the fastest rise in living costs for over three years and they are reining in their spending rapidly. | |
| We’re concerned for the outlook for the retail industry given the toxic mix of rising operating and sourcing costs against a backdrop of weaker consumer demand and heightened political and economic uncertainty. | |
| Indeed, recent research conducted by Retail Economics found 43% of consumers suggested they had adopted more cautious spending habits over the last three months citing Brexit and personal finances as their main concerns. | |
| Furthermore, we forecast that real earnings are likely to start to shrink by mid-2017 which will put further pressure on the retail industry. | |
| 10.06am BST | 10.06am BST |
| 10:06 | 10:06 |
| Retail sales fall at fastest rate in 7 years in first quarter | Retail sales fall at fastest rate in 7 years in first quarter |
| In the first quarter overall, UK retail sales fell 1.4%, which was the biggest quarterly fall since 2010. | In the first quarter overall, UK retail sales fell 1.4%, which was the biggest quarterly fall since 2010. |
| It looks like consumers are less willing to spend now that the impact of the weaker pound is translating into higher shop prices. | It looks like consumers are less willing to spend now that the impact of the weaker pound is translating into higher shop prices. |
| The pound is currently 14% lower against the dollar than it was on the day of the EU referendum in June. A weaker pound makes goods imported from abroad more expensive. | The pound is currently 14% lower against the dollar than it was on the day of the EU referendum in June. A weaker pound makes goods imported from abroad more expensive. |
| Kate Davies, senior statistician at the ONS, said prices are rising across the board: | Kate Davies, senior statistician at the ONS, said prices are rising across the board: |
| Today’s retail sales figures show a decline on the month and on the three months to March, which coincides with quarter 1 in 2017. This is the first time we’ve seen a quarterly decline since 2013, and it seems to be a consequence of price increases across a whole range of sectors. | Today’s retail sales figures show a decline on the month and on the three months to March, which coincides with quarter 1 in 2017. This is the first time we’ve seen a quarterly decline since 2013, and it seems to be a consequence of price increases across a whole range of sectors. |
| Howard Archer, chief UK economist at IHS Markit, says the retail sales figures are “dire”. | Howard Archer, chief UK economist at IHS Markit, says the retail sales figures are “dire”. |
| Absolutely dire #UK #retail #sales in March as volumes down 1.8% m/m. Down 1.4% q/q in Q1 2017 - worst perforrmance for 7 years ! (1) | Absolutely dire #UK #retail #sales in March as volumes down 1.8% m/m. Down 1.4% q/q in Q1 2017 - worst perforrmance for 7 years ! (1) |
| 9.38am BST | 9.38am BST |
| 09:38 | 09:38 |
| UK retail sales fall 1.8% in March | UK retail sales fall 1.8% in March |
| Breaking: Here in the UK the headline retail sales are a bit of a shocker. | Breaking: Here in the UK the headline retail sales are a bit of a shocker. |
| The volume of retail sales fell 1.8% between February and March according to the Office for National Statistics, far worse than the 0.2% dip predicted by economists. | The volume of retail sales fell 1.8% between February and March according to the Office for National Statistics, far worse than the 0.2% dip predicted by economists. |
| It was also a big reversal in fortunes compared with the month earlier, when sales were up 1.7% (that was revised up from 1.4%). | It was also a big reversal in fortunes compared with the month earlier, when sales were up 1.7% (that was revised up from 1.4%). |
| More soon. | More soon. |
| 9.31am BST | 9.31am BST |
| 09:31 | 09:31 |
| Eurozone: PMIs signal strong start to second quarter | Eurozone: PMIs signal strong start to second quarter |
| Those stronger-than-expected French PMIs have boosted the broader eurozone, helping to drive the PMI for the single currency bloc to a fresh six-year high. | Those stronger-than-expected French PMIs have boosted the broader eurozone, helping to drive the PMI for the single currency bloc to a fresh six-year high. |
| Markit’s flash eurozone PMI composite index takes a snapshot of the manufacturing and services indices across the region. The headline index climbed to 56.7 in April from 56.4 and beat expectations of 56.3. | Markit’s flash eurozone PMI composite index takes a snapshot of the manufacturing and services indices across the region. The headline index climbed to 56.7 in April from 56.4 and beat expectations of 56.3. |
| While growth in France accelerated, it moderated in Germany. The headline composite index for Germany fell to 56.3 in April from 57.1 in March. | While growth in France accelerated, it moderated in Germany. The headline composite index for Germany fell to 56.3 in April from 57.1 in March. |
| Chris Williamson, chief business economist at IHS Markit, said the April PMIs put the eurozone economy on track to grow by 0.7% in the second quarter: | Chris Williamson, chief business economist at IHS Markit, said the April PMIs put the eurozone economy on track to grow by 0.7% in the second quarter: |
| The eurozone economy has enjoyed a strong start to the second quarter. The April flash PMI is running at a level consistent with 0.7% GDP growth, up from 0.6% in the first quarter. Such strong growth, if sustained, will inevitably lead to upward revisions to economists’ 2017 forecasts. | The eurozone economy has enjoyed a strong start to the second quarter. The April flash PMI is running at a level consistent with 0.7% GDP growth, up from 0.6% in the first quarter. Such strong growth, if sustained, will inevitably lead to upward revisions to economists’ 2017 forecasts. |
| 8.51am BST | 8.51am BST |
| 08:51 | 08:51 |
| Euro slips from three-week highs | Euro slips from three-week highs |
| The euro hasn’t been able to hold on to the gains made on Thursday. Having hit a three-week high of $1.077 yesterday, the euro is currently trading at $1.0722. | The euro hasn’t been able to hold on to the gains made on Thursday. Having hit a three-week high of $1.077 yesterday, the euro is currently trading at $1.0722. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 8.53am BST | at 8.53am BST |
| 8.36am BST | 8.36am BST |
| 08:36 | 08:36 |
| French shares fall in early trading | French shares fall in early trading |
| Following Thursday’s surge in French shares - buoyed by forecasts that independent candidate Emmanuel Macron would win the presidential election - investors are more subdued this morning. The CAC 40 is down 0.5%. | Following Thursday’s surge in French shares - buoyed by forecasts that independent candidate Emmanuel Macron would win the presidential election - investors are more subdued this morning. The CAC 40 is down 0.5%. |
| Here is how markets are looking across Europe: | Here is how markets are looking across Europe: |
| FTSE 100: +0.04% at 7,121 | FTSE 100: +0.04% at 7,121 |
| Germany’s DAX: -0.1% at 12,021 | Germany’s DAX: -0.1% at 12,021 |
| France’s CAC: -0.5% at 5,053 | France’s CAC: -0.5% at 5,053 |
| Italy’s FTSE MIB: -0.1% at 19,834 | Italy’s FTSE MIB: -0.1% at 19,834 |
| Spain’s IBEX: +0.1% at 10,382 | Spain’s IBEX: +0.1% at 10,382 |
| 8.19am BST | 8.19am BST |
| 08:19 | 08:19 |
| France: strong growth signalled in April | France: strong growth signalled in April |
| Markit’s flash French PMI surveys for April have easily beaten expectations, suggesting growth in the private sector accelerated this month. | Markit’s flash French PMI surveys for April have easily beaten expectations, suggesting growth in the private sector accelerated this month. |
| Activity in both the manufacturing and services sector was better than expected, boosting the combined index to 57.4 in April from 56.8, where anything above 50 indicates growth. | Activity in both the manufacturing and services sector was better than expected, boosting the combined index to 57.4 in April from 56.8, where anything above 50 indicates growth. |
| That was far better than the 56.2 predicted by economists in a Reuters poll, and suggests the French economy was gaining momentum ahead of Sunday’s election. | That was far better than the 56.2 predicted by economists in a Reuters poll, and suggests the French economy was gaining momentum ahead of Sunday’s election. |
| Alex Gill, economist at IHS Markit, said French firms had shrugged off uncertainty posed by the election: | Alex Gill, economist at IHS Markit, said French firms had shrugged off uncertainty posed by the election: |
| The numbers provide further evidence that the French private sector remains resilient to political uncertainty around the upcoming presidential election. | The numbers provide further evidence that the French private sector remains resilient to political uncertainty around the upcoming presidential election. |
| Indeed, business optimism hit a multi-year high in April, with a number of respondents anticipating favourable business conditions following its conclusion. This has, in turn, encouraged firms to take on additional staff members.” | Indeed, business optimism hit a multi-year high in April, with a number of respondents anticipating favourable business conditions following its conclusion. This has, in turn, encouraged firms to take on additional staff members.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 8.22am BST | at 8.22am BST |
| 8.05am BST | 8.05am BST |
| 08:05 | 08:05 |
| From the Guardian’s Martin Kettle: | From the Guardian’s Martin Kettle: |
| 7.53am BST | 7.53am BST |
| 07:53 | 07:53 |
| Traders at spread betting firm IG are expecting European markets to open higher this morning: | Traders at spread betting firm IG are expecting European markets to open higher this morning: |
| Our European opening calls:$FTSE 7131 +0.18%$DAX 12055 +0.23%$CAC 5088 +0.20%$IBEX 10391 +0.18%$MIB 19858 +0.04% | Our European opening calls:$FTSE 7131 +0.18%$DAX 12055 +0.23%$CAC 5088 +0.20%$IBEX 10391 +0.18%$MIB 19858 +0.04% |
| 7.52am BST | 7.52am BST |
| 07:52 | 07:52 |
| The agenda: France in focus as election looms | The agenda: France in focus as election looms |
| Good morning, and welcome to our rolling coverage of the world economy, the financial markets, the eurozone and business. | Good morning, and welcome to our rolling coverage of the world economy, the financial markets, the eurozone and business. |
| Investor minds will be focused on France as voters prepare to head to the polls for the first round of the presidential election on Sunday. | Investor minds will be focused on France as voters prepare to head to the polls for the first round of the presidential election on Sunday. |
| The election result is expected to be far-reaching, not only dictating domestic policies in France but potentially determining the future of the EU. | The election result is expected to be far-reaching, not only dictating domestic policies in France but potentially determining the future of the EU. |
| Michael Hewson, chief market analyst at CMC Markets UK, gives his take on how the markets might digest the result. | Michael Hewson, chief market analyst at CMC Markets UK, gives his take on how the markets might digest the result. |
| With all eyes on the first round of the French presidential vote this weekend, the France CAC 40 outperformed yesterday as markets started to price in the prospect of the independent candidate Emmanuel Macron making it through to the second round of voting against Marine Le Pen, or possibly Jean Luc Melenchon who has enjoyed a late surge in the polls. | With all eyes on the first round of the French presidential vote this weekend, the France CAC 40 outperformed yesterday as markets started to price in the prospect of the independent candidate Emmanuel Macron making it through to the second round of voting against Marine Le Pen, or possibly Jean Luc Melenchon who has enjoyed a late surge in the polls. |
| Whether it will be enough to deliver him into the second round is debatable, but markets are starting to price in the prospect that Macron will probably win a contest between either of the other two contenders. | Whether it will be enough to deliver him into the second round is debatable, but markets are starting to price in the prospect that Macron will probably win a contest between either of the other two contenders. |
| Let’s hope he doesn’t get squeezed out, particularly in light of last night’s terrorist attack in Paris, which given the tightness of the polls, could influence events, leaving investors to face the prospect of a face-off between Marine Le Pen on the right and Melenchon on the left. Any such outcome is unlikely to be well received by the markets. | Let’s hope he doesn’t get squeezed out, particularly in light of last night’s terrorist attack in Paris, which given the tightness of the polls, could influence events, leaving investors to face the prospect of a face-off between Marine Le Pen on the right and Melenchon on the left. Any such outcome is unlikely to be well received by the markets. |
| Also coming up today... | Also coming up today... |
| PMI surveys for April will give the earliest indication of how the manufacturing and services sectors in France, Germany, and the wider eurozone were performing at the beginning of the second quarter. | PMI surveys for April will give the earliest indication of how the manufacturing and services sectors in France, Germany, and the wider eurozone were performing at the beginning of the second quarter. |
| Here in the UK retail sales figures for March will offer an insight into whether consumers remained willing to splash out on new purchases despite rising prices. | Here in the UK retail sales figures for March will offer an insight into whether consumers remained willing to splash out on new purchases despite rising prices. |