British Retail Consortium
This coverage focuses on the British Retail Consortium’s role, initiatives, and influence within the UK retail industry. Reporting includes policy advocacy, industry reports, regulatory developments, public statements, and leadership actions that shape the sector. With a focus on commercial implications and operational challenges, it provides valuable context for retail executives and managers navigating industry-wide issues and strategic decisions.
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Oct- 2025 -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 -29 SeptemberHigh Street
BRC warns retailers over lack of biodiversity targets
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has warned in a new report that retailers must step up efforts to tackle biodiversity loss or risk undermining the resilience of their supply chains. The trade body’s report, Planning for Nature, found that 76% of retailers have no targets in place to protect nature.…
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25 SeptemberEconomy
AO chief warns UK economy is sliding towards recession
AO World founder and chief executive John Roberts has warned that the UK is heading into recession in a recorded interview with the BBC yesterday (24 September) as inflation and labour pressures weigh on businesses. According to Roberts, Britain is “heading into another” downturn, noting that rising costs were affecting…
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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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19 SeptemberEconomy
Retail sales rise as sunshine and rate cuts boost August trading
Retail sales rose in August, closing out the summer on a stronger footing, according to new data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The ONS Retail Sales Index showed a 3% year-on-year increase in sales by value and a 1.2% rise in sales by volume, marking the third consecutive…
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17 SeptemberEconomy
Inflation holds steady at 3.8% but food prices on the rise
Inflation held steady last month, with a reported rise of 3.8% in the 12 months to August 2025, unchanged from July’s figures. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the August and July figures mark the joint-highest recorded since January 2024, when the rate was 4.0%. It comes as…
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12 SeptemberHigh Street
400 large stores at risk under new business rates proposals, BRC finds
Around 400 large-format stores are at risk of closure, if they are included in the Government’s new business rates surtax on premises with a rateable value over £500,000, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC). The BRC anticipates that if all 400 at-risk stores were to close, up to 100,000…
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9 SeptemberEconomy
Retail sales rise 3.1% in August due to warmer weather
UK retail sales grew 3.1% in August compared with the same month last year, marking a stronger end to the summer thanks to warmer weather, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC). The figures, covering the four weeks from 3 to 30 August, were above the 12-month average growth of…
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Aug- 2025 -28 AugustPeople Moves
BRC appoints Jo Whitfield as chairman-elect
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has appointed Jo Whitfield CBE as its next chair, succeeding Andy Higginson when his term ends on 2 October 2025. Whitfield has 25 years’ experience in retail, including senior roles at Matalan, the Co-operative Group and Asda. She is currently a non-executive and audit chair…
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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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