Bank of England
This coverage analyses the Bank of England’s decisions and policies and their impact on the UK retail sector, focusing on interest rates, inflation, consumer spending, and economic forecasts. Reporting provides context on how monetary policy shapes retail performance, costs, and demand — offering insight for executives, managers, and professionals making strategic decisions in a shifting economic environment.
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Oct- 2025 -28 OctoberEconomy
Shop price inflation slows to 1% in October amid retailer discounting
Shop price inflation eased to 1.0% year on year in October, down from 1.4% in September, as competition led to widespread discounting, according to the latest British Retail Consortium (BRC) figures. The rate was marginally below the three-month average of 1.1%. It comes as Non-food prices fell by 0.4% year…
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2 OctoberHigh Street
Reeves set to scale back business rates plans for large retailers
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is reportedly planning to scale back plans to raise business rates on big retailers after warnings it could push up food prices, according to the Financial Times. The news comes after the Treasury had planned to put properties worth more than £500,000 into the highest tax band…
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Sep- 2025 -23 SeptemberHigh Street
BRC warns food inflation could stay above 5% until 2026
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has warned that food inflation could remain above 5% well into 2026 if the retail industry faces further tax rises in the Autumn Budget. The trade body said around 4,000 large shops could see higher bills under a government proposal to impose a new business…
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18 SeptemberEconomy
BoE holds interest rates at 4%
The Bank of England (BoE) has voted to hold interest rates steady at 4% amid concerns around the recent rise in inflation. At a meeting this week, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted by a majority of 7–2 to maintain the rate, as two members voted to reduce it by…
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Aug- 2025 -26 AugustHigh Street
Business rates ‘double hit’ to cost English firms £2.5bn
Businesses the length and breadth of England are “staring down the barrel” of a £2.5bn hike in property taxes from April 2026, as inflation and a new government stealth tax will combine to drive up business rates bills, according to analysis by global tax firm Ryan. A nationwide revaluation of…
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26 AugustEconomy
Shop price inflation hits 18-month high in first week of August
Shop price inflation increased to 0.9% year on year in the week ended 7 August, an 18-month high, according to data from the British Retail Consortium. This increase came against growth of 0.7% in July and was above the three-month average inflation of 0.6%, driven by price hikes across butter,…
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22 AugustHigh Street
Retail bosses urge chancellor to cut industry tax burden in Budget
More than 60 retail leaders have written to the chancellor ahead of the Autumn Budget, warning that rising costs are driving up prices and threatening jobs. Chief executives from companies including Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Aldi, Asda, Boots and Ikea signed the letter, which calls for a reduction in business rates for…
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21 AugustDepartment Stores
Debenhams completes £175m refinancing deal
Debenhams Group has completed a new three-year facility providing access to funding of up to £175m, led by former owner TPG. The new facility, which extends maturity to August 2028, replaces its previous £125m revolving credit facility originally due to mature in October 2026. Executed by the new management team…
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20 AugustEconomy
Inflation jumps more than expected to 3.8%
Inflation rose more than expected in July, rising to 3.8%, the highest rate in 18 months. On a monthly basis, it rose by 0.1% last month, compared with a fall of 0.2% in July 2024. This was up from 3.6% in June, and means that inflation is almost double the…
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14 AugustEconomy
UK quarterly GDP beats expectations despite slowdown
UK GDP grew 0.3% in the three months to June, behind the 0.7% it grew in the first quarter, as a result of US tariffs and higher business costs, according to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). However, it is better than expected growth as economists polled by…
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