Latest figures indicate a retail slowdown
Wednesday 21st September 2011, 2:59PM BST.
Non-food sales dropped for the first time in about a year
JERSEY could be at the start of a ‘double dip’ recession, the latest retail figures suggest.
Non-food sales dropped for the first time in about a year and food sales are still below what they were four years ago.
Sales on non-food items in the Island had risen steadily since the second quarter of 2010 but in the last three months they dropped by three per cent.
It meant that while non-food sales were four per cent higher than last year, they were still lower than they were in 2008, before the recession really took hold.
Travel
To, from and around the Island
Airport Arrivals/Departures
Harbours Arrivals/Departures
Bus Information/Timetables
JOIN US ON...
Facebook and Twitter
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Got a story? Get in touch
KIT 4 CLUBS
Win a share of £10,000
2012 is the year of the London Olympics and to celebrate this great event the Jersey Evening Post, in association with sponsors Ogier is giving all sporting clubs a chance to win a share of £10,000.
This is Jersey
Jersey Evening Post
Useful links
Not really surprising, people are losing their jobs, there are many people unemployed and those in work are seeing wage freezes.
Those with money are buying things online.
Report abuse
This report cannot be taken seriously in Jersey and should really be ignored, we have already been told by the Treasury Minister Senator Philip Ozouf that we are in a strong position to avoid any of this negative stuff that affects the rest of the World.
Who is going to argue with the “Big O”
Report abuse
What a surprise..
With GST up to 5% they are killing the island, killing the shops, killing business, and creating mass unemployment which requires even more taxes to fund the Social.
Everyone told them GST was the wrong tax at the wrong time, now see what theyve done.
Greedy, stupid, ignorant, ridiculous government.
Report abuse
Not surprised at all,it will only get worse the way things are going here.
No wage rise doesn’t help either.
Pensioners only 2% rise when cost of living went up over 4%.
No wonder folk are pulling their belts in,have no option really,life here now is just an existence for many.
And when the weather gets cold again next month will have to pull our belts further in when we need to heat our homes.
Life enriching Jersey eh!
Report abuse
You don’t have to be a genius to know this. You only have to look at King and Queen Street on any given Saturday and contrast and compare it with any given Saturday pre-2008.
The streets are not busy, there’s no vibrancy.
This is for several reasons:
1) Higher and sustained unemployment;
2) Better prices on the internet
3) Rises in GST
4) Rises in other taxation – such as income tax
5) Lower tourist numbers
If I’m paying more in personal taxes, more in supermarkets and more on petrol – then it only stands to reason why retail is in decline.
As far as I can see that if we’re all subjected to higher taxes then this will result in lower sending on the High Street which will result in loss of jobs and that will result in more welfare claims, which results in higher taxes – it’s a vicious little circle.
Our economy roughly matches that of the UK – in that we are a retail economy… people shop. Without other areas to fall back on, the economy suffers.
It’s at times like this that the States should be looking to reduce taxes and get people spending money and return some much needed confidence to the island.
Report abuse
@2 – spot on!
Additionally several banks have been making people redundant without announcing figures.. I guess one or two here or there won’t matter.
Local prices still too high. Think Twice – Shop Online.
Report abuse
I do remember Sen. Ozouf being told that removing the money supply would result in just this scenario. Prehaps he may now care to read some David Blanchflower.
No pay rises for 3 years……and I’m supposed to go out and buy?
Report abuse
Four years ago my average spend with the Coop was circa £2000 p.a. now retired, I travel frequently to the UK, my spend with the Coop this year to date stands at £397, why buy locally when you can bring it back off holiday.
Incidentally, Tesco still has some items on offer for the same price as three years ago – match that in Jersey !!!!!
Report abuse
Sadly all the comment’s above are right as a pensioner I find Jersey prices frightening what did Ozouf and Co do to help, brought in Waitrose a very expensive supermarket been there once have not been back since. They should have brought an Aldi or Asda in, there prices shame jersey retailers I now buy all products I can online clothes, shoes, even coffee and I have purchased TVs in the past one example Asda a pack of three men’s shirts £9 try and find that in Jersey there are dozens of other examples of good value in the UK as opposed to Jersey
Report abuse
Philip,
I do seem to remember you saying this would not happen – wrong again, another case of engaging your brain first before your gob opens!
Report abuse
I wish you lot would stop moaning …..you never had it so good, it is only because you have had an insanely good quality of life that you are complaining now. Wake me up when unemployment reaches 20% and until such time …Shut up!
Report abuse
Speaker cable.
Jersey £15.99
Online £2.99 + 50p postage.
Report abuse
You only need read this months copy of the consumer magazine to see why. Motor fuel up 6% in the past year, food up 6%,alcohol 7%,heating oil 27%, 3 gas rises over the past year totalling over 20%,housing 4% – and the average wage rise for those lucky enough to get it was 2.5%.
Link here for those interested – http://www.jerseyconsumercouncil.org/images/50_issue_web.pdf
I’m surprised they haven’t stopped us shopping on the net and particularly that GST only applies to higher priced items. Greedy local businesses no longer have the monopoly and are suffering, let em go under they have had it too good for far too long.
Report abuse
Yes Michael @9
After my first visit to Waitrose I swore not to return. However, I did and having looked carefully, I discovered that it was not as expensive as I first thought. Yes they have some expensive ranges, but they also have a lot of value in their essentials range. Having compared prices, I rarely use the Co op now and never use the town markets.
I’m all up for a bargain, but did you ever stop to think why you can buy three men’s shirts for £9. Well notwithstanding the fact the the quality will be crap, the rest of the saving in cost will be as a result of sweat shop labour, possibly that of a young child.
So don’t be selfish, there are huge hidden moral costs of you and others saving a couple of quid here and there.
Report abuse
Scouser @ 11 > You are correct, but the moaners are mostly Jersey’s great unwashed living on benefit and having too much time on their hands.
Rather than give their time in some kind volantery work they contributing nothing to society and delude themselves that their pitiful whining is important.
Most of the complainters don’t know their born, don’t get off their arses to vote and that is a mercy.
Report abuse
Right I will list the last 10 non food items I have bought in the last month and give the comparison prices I found from shop to net. The item from the net and the item in the shop was identical i.e same brand, same quality, same model and the net item includes any p & p i had to pay and purchased brand new and not from any auctions. 1) rolling pin, local £29.99 net £2.99 2) pastry board local £11.99 net £3.99 3) mobile phone Local £339 net £139 4) Hardrive local £179 net £110.68 5) football boots local £49.99 net £23.75 6) expresso machine local £179.99, net £135.99 7) computer game local £34.99 net £32.00
wifi dongle local £29.99 net £8.99 9)running shoes local £89.99 net £44.99 10) mixing bowl local £9.99 net £4.99.
The total saving from the net was £447.46!!!! Now that is not a couple of quid. Everything listed was GST exempt but even if I had to pay 5% on delivery I would have still saved £422.10!!!!! so realistically GST would have to be near on 90% for any saving not to be worthwhile.
The above proves that the savings are on items of a couple of pounds and also more luzury items of £100+.
I have been shopping on the net for 10 years and I reckon I have saved at least £10k over the last 3 years buy shopping online. In that time I have had to return items for various reasons, just like you would have to do in a shop and it is just as easy as returning to a shop.
I wonder where I will continue to shop….Think Twice, buy locally. Think smart,,,buy online.
Report abuse
@16.
I think we all have tales of such comparisons:
TV on the NET (amazon) – £363.00 – less VAT – £303.00
at the CO-OP – £678.00
at Beyond – £735.00
at Fortuna – £712.00
I have certainly saved 000,s by buying online.
Report abuse
#16 – is this same brand for brand?
Report abuse
2 metre usb cable local shop 17 .99 web price 3.88 think twice buy on the web
Report abuse
No your joking what,s going on is there some sort of recession, why has no one told us , where,s the Jersey evening post when you need them
Report abuse
Does anyone remember the good or (better) days, you went to work, or you had no money, English people had the dole, not us. We were the envy of most country,s, a very well run goverment, a very profitable econemy ( according to my spelling schools were much better too), and you did not have this stupid internet?.Life was much simpler, those were the days my friend we thought they would never end.Oh dear, Oh dear. he,s going to get in, is,nt he??, OH DEAR, its not as if you can rely on the Condor??
Report abuse
# 20, 21.
‘No your joking what,s going on is there some sort of recession, why has no one told us , where,s the Jersey evening post when you need them’
‘We were the envy of most country,s, a very well run goverment, a very profitable econemy ( according to my spelling schools were much better too)’
Nice one(s)!
Report abuse
post 18. My comparisons are for exactly the same item, exactly the same model number etc so yes an exact like for like comparrison. I work in town and on lunch times i will have a look around the shops and play with items I want to purchase. My phone has an app where I can scan a barcode and it brings the item in amazon.co.uk I can then buy the item then and there in the shop via my mobile from amazon so I know it is the exact same item.
I would say that 75% of my internet purchases come from amazon.co.uk. they remove VAT before checkout, have a free delivery option and to be honest I find stuff gets here within 48 hours ordereing it with free delivery. I once ordered something at 3pm and paid £2.99 delivery and it was delivered to my door at c. 11 am the next day so effectivly quicker than going to a local shop as they close when I am still at work and I couldnt get to a shop until 12 when I am on lunch. This is a rare example but does happen
Report abuse
@20, 21
None of this Council of Ministers and Chief Minister CR@P either.
I remember when the Fort was buzzing every day – a family membership equalling free entry was £30.00 and EVERY family had one.
Flights via BA came with a free domestic flight to the UK.
Price of a pint and fags being one quarter of the UK’s and Petrol a pittance.
I remember when King and Queen street every lunch time and weekend was mobbed.. not any more.
The finance industry has brought prosperity in the short term but greed has succeeded in destroying the standard of living.
Report abuse
what did Ozouf and Co do to help, brought in Waitrose
absolute nonsense. checkers was put up for sale and waitrose wanted to buy it. We don’t know whether Lidl or Aldi were interested, but the key point is that it was a PRIVATE transaction between two companies. The degree of ignorance is breathtaking.
Report abuse
i have just read all the complaints about costs in Jersey i saw this coming i lived in Jersey for 35 years on retirement i left to go overseas i now live in a so called third world country in a nice 3 bedroom hose and live well on about 150& a week sending two local kids to private scool and a wife the only part of my money from jersey is my pension(no marriage allowance)i pay 68.40rent per month half of what i paid in Jersey 128.60 per week for i bedroom Admmitted i was single and only myself to keep I GET NO ALLOWACES AT ALL FROM RICH RICH Jersey
Report abuse
no 23
I also do most of my shopping on Amazon mainly for price but also because I can find what I want without navigating the town car-parks and street pounding when looking for a certain item.
The problem with what you are doing is that when the shops go out of business you won’t have anywhere to use as a comparison in your lunch hour. Shops have rent, heating, staff, rates and much more that goes into their product including the knowledge of the staff. To use these facilities to buy elsewhere whilst in the shop is disrespectful and rude.
Report abuse
I don’t even bother doing comparisons now, I used too but it is a waste of my time as local retailer don’t even some close.
Last time I went to look for a laptop for my in laws, they wanted a local machine so if it went wrong they could get it sorted quickly without sending it away.
Only 1 local retailer fixed the machines locally, the rest sent them away. The 1 retailers price was £300 more expensive for the same item from Dell.
Guess where I went.
It hasn’t gone wrong in 3 years since buying it.
The writing is on the wall for electronics and books etc, The camera bloke in Colomberie legged it a couple of years ago, he saw it coming. The book shops are on their way out, Jura used to have 2 shops back in the day, there were 2 or 3 others too. Amazon is killing them.
I do feel slightly sorry for some retailers as I know they try hard, but quite a few just sit in their shops waiting for the old people and technophobes to come throughout he door to buy their overpriced wares. They are getting less and less footfall now. Even my 73 year old mother has an iPad and uses it to shop online.
RIP retailers.
Report abuse
I find the central market has the best quality and best value. The only problem is the parking which is terrible.
Report abuse
Indeed #28
I however have less sympathy for local retailers, the larger ones in particular.
Take for example my latest experience of comparing local prices to those online (something i too will not bother doing in future);
A Nikon D7000 SLR camera (body only), Amazon price delivered free to Jersey with VAT removed = £636
Jessops (local shop) – £700+ (incidentally another UK retailer who claim to remove VAT yet its actually more like 10% rather than 20%)
And the one that made my jaw drop the most – the JEC/Beyond Computers. The price? A grand total of 70% more at £1050. Needless to say i turned around immediately and walked out the shop.
How can that kind of price difference possibly be justifiable?? They could have bought 10 from Amazon and sold them on at £800 and still made a healthy profit – why people insist on buying products such as this locally is beyond me, clearly some have more money than sense.
Report abuse
It’s hard to imagine the world without shops, when all shopping is done on-line and jobs are in packing/delivery and website management rather than sales. But that’s probably where we are heading.
The difference between the high Street and on line prices is just too great to make enough people stay with the High street. I would like to, but every time I do my research I find the item I want significantly cheaper on Amazon or an E-bay shop or other on-line retailer. Add to that the convenience of not having to drive into town and park and its a no win situation for the shops.
Apart from fresh food, which I think (hope) there will always be a local market for, I suspect high street shopping will die.
Report abuse
Jon
I’m all up for a bargain, but did you ever stop to think why you can buy three men’s shirts for £9. Well notwithstanding the fact the the quality will be crap, the rest of the saving in cost will be as a result of sweat shop labour, possibly that of a young child.
So don’t be selfish, there are huge hidden moral costs of you and others saving a couple of quid here and there.
Hi Jon, sorry but you may be able to take a high moral ground but that is meaningless if you are retired and on a fixed income coupled with extremely low investment rates low income and grossly over inflated Jersey prices. So buy Internet much cheaper, or buy at shops like Asda when you visit the UK Asda shirts and other clothes {very good quality by the way} certainly better than the expensive and overpriced items in Jersey, which incidentally will be sourced from similar factory’s as you discribe above, but in the case of Jersey retailers will be grossly marked up to reflect the 100% + mark up that local retailers expect there days are numbered unless they compete like for like with prices on the world wide web.
Report abuse
sweat shop labour, possibly that of a young child.
And the best thing about child labour is there seems to be little social unrest and bad behaviour like we have with the kids/children in town on a Friday night…………..bring back kids up chimneys and all that then the little sods will be too knackered to make trouble in town
Report abuse
These facts about consumer spending will have been self evident to all those people who are finding themselves with ever less cash after the essential bills have been paid for. You can’t spend what you don’t have (unless you are a bank or a government…) Unfortunately, for decades, Jersey merrily let itself become one of the most expensive places to live in. And many on low or fixed incomes have long practised the art of carefully shopping around, and making do. They are the ones being most clobbered by the ever rising price of essentials. If you have already cut out the luxuries, and already shop around, what else can you do to cut back?
There are still plenty here with money to burn, as those fancy shops in Liberty Wharf show. But the constant crush of people in the pound shops tells a different tale of the ‘other’ Jersey. It would be interesting to know which of those two differing Jerseys is the bigger.
Report abuse
@34 Andre
Well said.
If I were an entrepreneur about to open a business in Jersey, would I go for the chi-chi Liberty Wharf boutique or a budget outlet?
The way the economy seems to be going, I think the latter would be a better bet.
Report abuse
Personally I order online and save on the GST too.
Have a llok at Amazon subscribe and save, good deals on a load of household consumables.
Report abuse
“If I were an entrepreneur about to open a business in Jersey, would I go for the chi-chi Liberty Wharf boutique or a budget outlet?”
There is some quiet retrenchment going on and new businesses or ones looking to take on new premises are looking to make a deal.
I suspect that cheap is good!
Report abuse
Creating GST to cover the States overspending is killing most of the local companies.
We are now better off on the web.
They should tax imported goods and leave local companies (with a Jersey address)like My memory ,Play .com or any shop in town, to sell us stuff free of tax.
This is not making any sens.
Report abuse