Pearl & Coutts: Shops To Let As UK Inflation Helps Retailers Thrive

Oct. 8, 2013 - PRLog -- There was good news for UK retailers with inflation pegged at just 2.7% during August. At its peak it has been 5.2% - and wages have not kept pace. The current pressure on UK householders budgets has been described as the tightest squeeze since the 1860s. Any measures which will relieve that pressure are bound to be music to shopkeepers' ears. The drop in the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) even outstripped expectations from the Bank of England. Inflation is expected to drop to just 2% by December this year. Commercial property specialists Pearl and Coutts are saying they expect demand for UK shops to rent to increase in the run up.

With the CPI set at 2.8% in July, the Bank of England’s predictions simply did not include the possibility that shoppers would get a break with another downward trend the next month. However, many prices actually either held steady or slowed. For example, both clothing and air fares rose but only at a very slow place. And crucially petrol only went up by 2p, whereas a year before it had risen by 3.5p more per litre during the same period.

Around the world, the price of wheat has dramatically tumbled which in turn has affected a plethora of food prices. And that decrease is significant enough to affect a further movement in the shoppers' favour. This year looks set to deliver superb shopping incentives - yet more decreases in inflation timed to coincide with the vital Christmas trading period.

Shoppers had been going through a squeeze for many years. This was because their average earnings have seen a 7% decline in real terms over the past 5 years. So the introduction of lower inflation could not have come at a better time for retailers. The statistics have been widely quoted in the mainstream media, along with predictions of even lower figures due by December.

“Christmas is a really important time for retailers and we’re expecting to move many traders into a new shop to let long before the season starts. This year holds a lot of promise. In fact, throughout the year we’ve had a steady flow of traders looking for new shops to let all around the UK. It is question of the right location and amenities, carefully matched to your businesses trading style and day to day needs. We work with you to help you decide which shop to let is going to put you in the best possible position, thinking about your real life customer base.  Getting those factors right is step one; step two is ensuring competitive pricing gives you the edge,” said a spokesman from Pearl & Coutts.

To speak to their team about your commercial property needs, call today on 0044 (0)207 843 3788. Their shops to rent, parking space, industrial units, storage space and offices to let can also be viewed online by visiting http://www.pearl-coutts.co.uk/