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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Jul- 2019 -8 JulyAdvice
What’s required for a business in the retail sector to thrive?
Latest figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) show that retail sales in the UK fell by 2.7% in May 2019, compared to a year earlier. The total three-month average was also down year-on-year, reflecting the challenging environment for the sector. And yet, despite the shaky exterior, many retail businesses…
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Jun- 2019 -10 JuneHigh Street
Footfall ‘plummets’ in May
Footfall declined by 3.5% in May, compared with the same point last year when it declined by 0.4%, according to the latest BRC-Springboard Footfall and Vacancies Monitor. On a three-month basis, footfall decreased by 0.7%. The six and 12-month averages are at -1.3% and -1.4% respectively. High Street footfall declined…
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4 JuneHigh Street
Retail sales in May see ‘biggest decline on record’
Sales decreased by 2.7% in May on a total basis, excluding Easter distortions, making it the “worst decline” since records began in January 1995, according to the latest BRC-KPMG sales monitor. However, the BRC said this was against an increase of 4.1% in May 2018, itself a four year record.…
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4 JuneProperty
Network Rail sees retail sales growth of 4.36% in 2018/19
Network Rail saw its retail sales grow 4.36% and like-for-like sales increase by 1.32% in the 2018/19 financial year – above the British Retail Consortium’s (BRC) figure of 0.05% for the whole of the retail sector in the same period. The transport company said its largest station retail offer –…
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May- 2019 -30 MayEconomy
Shop price inflation pushed up by non-food price rises
Shop price inflation increased by 0.8% year-on-year in May, with non-food inflation also increasing by 0.2%, according to the latest figures from the BRC and Nielsen. The BRC said the growth in May was the second highest inflation rate seen in the last six years, though it remains “well below”…
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13 MayEconomy
Shop vacancy rate rises to highest level in four years
The national town centre vacancy rate rose to 10.2% empty outlets, according to data from the BRC-Springboard Footfall and Vacancies Monitor. This is an increase on the previous quarter’s 9.9% rise and the highest vacancy rate seen since April 2015. In the four weeks from 31 March to 27 April,…
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8 MayEconomy
Retail sales ‘below expectation’ in April
Retail sales fell below expectations in April, despite a total sales increase of 4.1% against the decrease of 3.1% the previous year, according to the latest BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor. This was due to figures being “distorted” by the timing of the run-up to Easter, which was in April this…
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Apr- 2019 -25 AprilEconomy
74,400 retail jobs lost in first three months of 2019
The retail sector saw a 2.4% year-on-year drop in the number of employees in the first quarter of this year, equating to a loss of 74,400 jobs. According to the British Retail Consortium (BRC), this is a higher reduction than the 2.2% drop seen in 2018. The trade organisation said…
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9 AprilEconomy
Brexit uncertainty slows retail sales in March
UK retail sales decreased by 1.1% in March, compared with the increase of 1.4% in 2018, according to the latest BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor. Over the three months to March, in-store sales of non-food items declined 1.5% on a total basis and 1.7% on a like-for-like basis. This is above…
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3 AprilEconomy
Shop price inflation hits highest level in six years
Shop price inflation accelerated in March to 0.9%, up from 0.7% in February, the highest inflation rate since March 2013. The figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Nielsen’s Shop Price Index also revealed that food inflation had increased by 2.5% in March, up from 1.6% in February. This…
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