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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Feb- 2019 -11 FebruaryHigh Street
High street vacancies on the rise, retail data shows
The national town centre vacancy rate was 9.9% in January 2019, up from 8.9% a year earlier This is according to the latest figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Springboard that also found retail footfall dropped a further 0.7% in January – although this was a lesser decline…
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5 FebruaryEconomy
Retail sales pick up in January
UK retail sales saw year-on-year growth of 2.2% in January following December’s report of the worst trading performance in a decade. According to the British Retail Consortium’s (BRC) Retail Sales Monitor, like-for-like sales saw an increase of 1.8% compared with the same month last year. Food items did well with…
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Jan- 2019 -30 JanuaryEconomy
January shop price inflation highest since 2013
Shop price inflation increased to 0.4% in January, up from 0.3% in December 2018 – the fourth consecutive month of price increases and the highest inflation rate since April 2013. According to the figures from the BRC-Nielsen shop price index, non-food deflation continued to decelerate, with prices falling by 0.3%…
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29 JanuaryAnalysis
The UK’s high street woes
There are few sectors where the effects of the faltering UK economy have been more starkly visible than the retail sector. It seems that every day the media presents another story about a high street name facing financial difficulty. There are a multitude of factors playing into the softening consumer…
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24 JanuaryPeople Moves
Around 70,000 retail jobs lost in Q4, report finds
The total number of employees working in retail was down 2.2%, equivalent to around 70,000 jobs, on Q4 2017 an industry report has found. The British Retail Consortium’s (BRC) Retail Employment Monitor also found that reductions in hours similar for full-time and part-time contracts as total hours fell by 2.8%.…
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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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