UK retailers to benefit this year from declining crude prices but uncertainty lingers: CBRE

CBRE, a real estate advisor in the UK, said in its outlook forecast for 2015 that convenience retailers will benefit this year from declining crude oil prices but that the industry should expect some degree of uncertainty.

CBRE recently published in a report that with falling crude oil prices “the likely effects of pushing down inflation and boosting consumer spending means we should expect to see a knock-on benefit for retailers,” according to comments by its head of UK research, Miles Gibson, in an analysis report.

However, the report warned that for 2015 the “prospects for retail properties remain among the most uncertain" with few signs that stable growth is returning to consumer spending.

According to the report, cost pressures and distractions across the sector, particularly in "grocery retail” are likely during the year.