5 killer stats to start your week

We arm you with all the stats you need to prepare for the coming week and help you understand the big industry trends.

1. Inflation takes off

The cost of living is set to rise to a three-year high as energy bills and a rise in airfares hits consumers. Inflation, as measured by the consumer prices index, is expected to rise to 2.6% in the year to April.

Source: Office for National Statistics

2. Chatbots to save brands money

Chatbots are set to redefine the customer service industry, saving brands time and money.
Forecasts estimates that chatbots will be responsible for cost savings of $8bn annually by 2022, with healthcare and banking set to benefit most.

Source: Juniper Research

3. Have you had a bad leader?

93.8% of marketers have had a bad leader, one of the highest of any sector in the UK, yet 87.5% think marketers make good leaders because they are good communicators. Some of the worst traits in bad leaders are favouritism, poor people skills, micromanaging and being unprofessional. Bad leaders leave employees feeling de-motivated and lacking direction.

Source: CV Library

4. Do brands really care about social causes?

Nearly a third of British people don’t believe brands care about the social causes they promote.
There is also a risk when they get it wrong, with a third saying they would campaign against a brand if it did something offensive.

Source: Future Thinking

5. Retailers see footfall growth

Footfall in the three months to the end of April saw the fastest growth in five years as the Easter holidays boosted visits.
Retail parks saw the fastest growth, ahead of the high street. Shopping centre footfall fell, however.

Source: BRC

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