Retailers’ utility bills rise nearly £3bn in two years http://www.energy-broker.co.uk/retailers-utility-bills-rise-nearly-3bn-in-two-years/

Retailers’ electricity, gas and waste costs have soared nearly £3billion over the last two years.

According to new research by Oxford Economics, utility costs have risen 17% since 2010 to £2.7 billion in 2012. That’s despite retailers investing to slash energy use by 20% since 2008.

The figures are part of a wider survey commissioned by the British Retail Consortium, which shows retailers have seen the cost of running their businesses rocket £20billion since 2006.

That works out as business costs jumping a fifth since 2006, with annual operating costs rising from £96bn to £116bn. Sales values increased by just 12% over the same period, according to the data. The BRC – which counts Greggs, Starbucks, Tesco and John Lewis among its members – suggests cost increases on that scale are “forcing store closures and curtailing job creation”.

via Retailers’ utility bills rise nearly £3bn in two years | Energy Live News.

Retailers’ utility bills rise nearly £3bn in two years