Economy
The latest news, updates and analysis on the economy and how it is affecting the UK retail industry. Sign up to the Daily Briefing and let Retail Sector’s business journalists keep you in the picture.
-
Apr- 2025 -16 April
Inflation falls more than expected to 2.6% in March
Inflation has fallen more than expected to 2.6% in the 12 months to March 2025, down from the 2.8% rise in February, driven largely by a fall in petrol prices. According to the ONS, the largest downward contributions came from recreation and culture and motor fuels, with a further large…
Read More » -
15 April
UK sales increase 1.1% in March thanks to good weather boost
UK Total retail sales increased by 1.1% year on year in March, against a growth of 3.5% in March 2024, with gardening and DIY sales being boosted by good weather. New data from the BRC and KPMG revealed that the increase was below the 3-month average growth of 1.6% and…
Read More » -
11 April
UK economy grows 0.5% in Feb
The UK economy grew by an unexpected 0.5% in February as manufacturing, retail and the services sector all helped contribute to the positive performance. Production output grew by 1.5% in February 2025, following a fall of 0.5% in January 2025 (revised up from a 0.9% fall in our previous publication),…
Read More » -
11 April
Footfall sees sharp 5.4% drop in March due to late Easter
Total year-on-year footfall in the UK dropped sharply by 5.4% in March, up from a 0.2% fall in February, according to BRC-Sensormatic data, which has been attributed to the timing of Easter later this April. Due to last year’s Easter falling in March, the calendar change has distorted the year-on-year…
Read More » -
7 April
Trump calls tariffs ‘medicine’ amid market turmoil
US president Donald Trump has called his newly-announced tariffs “medicine” as he showed no signs of reversing them. Speaking to reporters on Sunday (6 April) aboard Air Force One, Trump warned that governments would have to pay “a lot of money” to lift sweeping tariffs. He said: “I don’t want…
Read More » -
1 April
Retailers face £5.6bn rise in costs as Budget comes into play
New research by Retail Economics, along with frontline specialist Yoobic, has found that retailers face a £5.56bn rise in costs from this week as changes from the Budget are enacted, The Telegraph has reported. The rising bills will reportedly cost shoppers £1.7bn over the next year as costs are passed…
Read More » -
1 April
Retailers refrain from price rises despite looming costs, BRC finds
Retailers did not resort to price rises throughout March, according to the latest BRC-NIQ Shop Price Index, despite rising cost pressures. It comes as high street retailers are competing for reluctant shoppers, who are more likely to be pulled in with seasonal promotions. Mike Watkins, head of retailer and business…
Read More » -
Mar- 2025 -28 March
Clothing and household goods help boost retail sales 1% in Feb
Retail sales rose by 1% in February, thanks to a strong performance in non-food stores such as clothing, household goods and department stores. according to The Office for National Statistics (ONS). The largest monthly increase was seen in household goods stores, which were up 6.8% month-on-month, their biggest increase since…
Read More » -
26 March
Chancellor resists calls for business relief in Spring Statement
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has resisted calls from businesses for relief ahead of the upcoming tax changes this April, as part of her Spring Statement today (26 March). UK businesses had been hopeful the chancellor would raise the relief rate for retail, hospitality, and leisure after cutting it to 40% in…
Read More » -
26 March
Inflation ‘unexpectedly’ falls to 2.8% in February
Inflation unexpectedly fell to 2.8% in February in much welcome news for the chancellor ahead of the Spring Statement later today (26 March). A fall in the prices of clothing had the biggest impact on inflation in February, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).…
Read More »
