The UK is facing a shortage of a heatwave essential as temperatures are expected to reach 31°C by Monday, July 6. Alex Baldock, chief executive of electrical retailer Currys, which has branches in Birmingham, has warned that supplies of air conditioning units and fans are “tight”.
Forecast predicts scorching heat
Forecasters suggest that 31°C heat could hit this weekend, sparking a new heatwave next week. The Met Office has indicated that Scotland, Northern Ireland, and the northwest of England will often be rather cloudy and breezy with outbreaks of rain, but mostly dry further south with some sunshine. Tellingly, the forecast adds: “Turning hot in places.” BBC Weather forecasters predict the mercury could reach 31°C by Monday.
Currys CEO on stock levels
Baldock said cooling kit had been “flying off the shelves” during the record-breaking end to June. Currys was “working incredibly hard to make sure we have got a healthy level of stock” but supplies were “pretty tight”. “We are benefiting from being number one in the market and if anyone is going to have it we are going to have it,” he added.
Global chip shortage adds pressure
Baldock warned that it was “inevitable there will be inflation” driven by a global shortage of silicon chips which was “definitely a real thing”. However, he assured customers that Currys had secured its supply of computers and mobile phones to “at least September”. Currys was “working hard to make the most of our influence as the number one [retailer] to protect the consumer from price rises,” he continued.
Political context and retail challenges
Praising new Labour Party MP for Makerfield Andy Burnham, Baldock said he was pleased the Prime Minister-in-waiting was “talking about the high street and retail at the centre of economic and social life in the country”. He said Burnham needed to make it “less risky, less difficult and less expensive” to hire people. Baldock also called for a “level playing field” with online sellers.
