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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Jan- 2019 -10 JanuaryEconomy
Worst Christmas for retail in a decade, says the BRC
The retail sector has seen its worst Christmas performance in 10 years, despite a number of businesses reporting positive trading for the period. According to the British Retail Consortium (BRC), over the festive period retail sales growth was at 0% for the first time in 28 months as “squeezed customers”…
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4 JanuaryEconomy
Shop prices rise in December despite discounting
Shop prices saw a 0.3% year-on-year increase in December despite many retailers discounting heavily during the festive period, the BRC-Nielsen Shop Price Index has revealed. This was pushed up by food items which saw a 1.5% increase overall; individually fresh food saw a 0.9% price hike while shelf-stable food prices…
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Nov- 2018 -13 NovemberClothing & Shoes
John Lewis, M&S and Next sign anti-slavery agreement
Retailers John Lewis, M&S, New Look, Next, River Island and Shop Direct have signed a joint agreement to combat labour exploitation in UK textiles manufacturing. The Apparel and General Merchandise Public and Private Protocol commits signatories to work together to eradicate slavery and exploitation in textile supply chains. The retailers…
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Oct- 2018 -29 OctoberGovernment
Chancellor to propose £900m rates relief plan for smaller retailers
Chancellor Philip Hammond is expected to announce a rates relief for retail SMEs and relax town planning rules on the high street. The budget announcement will be made today (29 October) and Hammond is expected to cut business rates by 33% for 496,000 small retailers, saving £900m. It is also…
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9 OctoberHigh Street
Consumer spending in September dips amid ‘summer hangover’
UK retail sales decreased by 0.2% on a like-for-like compared with September 2017, when it had increased 1.9% from the preceding year. According to new figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and KPMG’s sales monitor, total sales increased by only 0.7% in September, against an increase of 2.3% in…
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4 OctoberHigh Street
3,200 stores ‘disappear’ from high street in four years
The number of physical shops in the UK has fallen by almost 3,200 over the past four years, down 1.2% to 263,070. According to the British Retail Consortium (BRC) the reason for the decline is down to a “transformation” of the industry, driven by changes in shopping habits, new technology,…
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3 OctoberEconomy
Shop prices rise for second month in row
Shop prices increased for two consecutive months – the first consecutive growth in five years – according to the latest British Retail Consortium and Nielsen Shop Price Index. Inflation increased by 0.2% from the previous month with food being the main driver for the hike in prices. Food showed a…
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1 OctoberHigh Street
Business rates could be changed to help retailers, says Greg Clark
Secretary of state for business Greg Clark has admitted that business rates could be changed in order to help high street retailers. Clark told a fringe event at the Conservative party conference that a change in business rates would be “one way” of recognising the role that high street retailers…
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Sep- 2018 -12 SeptemberEconomy
More than 75% of retail payments now made by card
Retail purchases made by card accounted for 76% of all retail sales made in 2017, according to the latest annual Payments Survey from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) . The trade association said this has partly been driven by UK customers increasingly using cards for lower value payments, traditionally dominated…
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10 SeptemberHigh Street
August footfall down 1.6% despite some retail park growth
Retail footfall dropped by 1.6% in August despite seeing rare retail park growth in the East and South West of the UK. The figures are according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Springboard’s footfall and vacancies monitor with August seeing a sharper decline than the 0.8% experienced in July,…
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