This is a trade facing website. Visit the ACT's consumer site thecyclingexperts.co.uk for information and advice on cycling and find your local independent cycle retailer.

Search News

Results: 51-60 of 907


24 Mar 2025

Activate Cycle Academy has delivered a five-day bespoke training course to help Metropolitan Police officers to crack down on illegal e-bikes.

21 Mar 2025

UK cycle industry trade bodies the Bicycle Association (BA) and Association of Cycle Traders (ACT) have issued a joint message to cycle retailers who may be considering fitting e-bike conversion...

20 Mar 2025

Businesses and individuals that have signed up to the E-Bike Positive retailer safety pledge are urged by the ACT share pictures of the in-store campaign assets in action with the association.

20 Mar 2025

Cytech, the internationally recognised training and accreditation scheme for bicycle mechanics, have partnered with Bristol-based charity Life Cycle to offer a range of bicycle mechanic...

19 Mar 2025

A lot of cycling retailers would consider managing inventory the most crucial aspect of running a shop, investing significant effort and time into keeping on top of stock. However, high street...

19 Mar 2025

The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) has translated its e-bike and e-scooter safety guidance videos into multiple languages to improve accessibility for delivery riders and other...

14 Mar 2025

UK governing body British Cycling has announced a four-year strategy to "reinforce Britain’s position as a world-leading cycling nation", including improving access to cycling across the...

12 Mar 2025

Towns and cities across Britain are already seeing a wave of closures as independent businesses shut their doors ahead of April’s triple tax burden, including those in the cycling retail...

5 Mar 2025

New research has revealed a recent uptick in UK consumer confidence, leading to increased hiring by businesses, with the retail sector responding positively to signs of economic resilience.

4 Mar 2025

The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) has issued a fresh warning about the dangers of UPP e-bike batteries, urging consumers to stop using them immediately.

Back to news menu

Shoppers predicted to spend £4.4bn less in the run-up to Christmas

Posted on in Business News , Cycles News , Creative News, Outdoor News

Xmas presentNew research has indicated that UK shoppers could spend £4.4bn less on essentials ahead of Christmas – a 22% drop as the rising cost of living impacts on disposable income.

The research by Retail Economics with retail technology firm Metapack, suggests nearly 60% of shoppers expect to cut spending on non-food items in the last three months of the year, the period during which most retailers make the most profit.
The forecast, if correct, would put additional pressure on retailers facing higher energy and labour bills, as well as rising commodity costs.

The company’s Holiday Shopping Trends Report found that British consumers are expected to cut back the most, with over 70% of customers expecting to reduce spending in some form.

Most consumers cited rising prices as a major concern, as UK inflation runs near 40-year highs at 9.9%.

---
Retail Finance is the perfect tool for retailers to lower the cost barrier for consumers, and remove the cost perceptions that hihger ticket items are out of budget. Read more: Are you maximising retail finance within your business?
---

This December, shoppers are expected to be nearly one-fifth fewer than before the pandemic, with numbers predicted to rise by just 4.2% from last year, when the Omicron threat kept many at home.

The shift to online shopping is also expected to slow as higher shipping and return costs for returned items lead to higher fees.

Retail Economics chief executive Richard Lim said: “Inflation will peak at just the wrong time for retailers. Buyers’ budgets are already under intense pressure as inflation in international markets hit a ten-year high. Consumers are worried, budgets are under pressure, and households are set to cut spending this year in an attempt to make ends meet.

“Amid weakening consumer demand, retailers are also facing a pincer move as costs and operating costs rise, which are testing business models to the breaking point. With profit margins under intense pressure, some retailers are planning to shift shipping and return costs to areas that encourage consumers to look for alternatives.”

Back to news menu

Useful links

If you have any other queries please contact us.