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The consumer economy has
performed particularly well; retail
sales have seen 25 months of
consecutive monthly year-on-
year growth, the longest period
of sustained growth since May
2008. This has been supported
by consumer confidence being at
its highest level since September
2002.
Retail and service vacancy rates
fell to 11.3% in April 2015, compared
to 11.4% in April 2014 (Experian
GOAD). As we discussed last
year, the percentage of vacant
floorspace is higher than the
number of units signifying retailers
are keeping or taking on new larger
units to show more stock with the
ability to create an experience.
THE RETAIL PROPERTY
HEALTH INDEX
The Cushman & Wakefield Retail
Property Health Index (RPHI) was a
tool developed in 2014 by Cushman
& Wakefield to identify and assess
the most and least ‘healthy’ retail
locations. The weighted index
utilises economic data, socio-
demographic characteristics and
retail property information to
enable comparison to be made
between geographic areas and
retail centres across GB.
The UK economy
performed strongly
through 2014 and
although there has
been a marginal
slowdown in GDP
growth in the first
quarter of 2015, the
foundations for a
sustainable recovery
have been laid.
-4
-2
0
2
4
6
8
May
Aug Nov
Feb May
Aug Nov
Feb May
2013
2014
2015
ONS volume growth (excl fuel)
BRC l-f-l growth
Source : Cushman &Wakefield Research
Retail Sales
6
Retail Therapy
| 2015
UK RETAIL PROPERTY
HEALTH INDEX
UK