Budget
This coverage examines the UK government’s seasonal budget announcements and their implications for the retail sector. Reporting focuses on tax changes, business rates, employment policies, and economic forecasts that directly affect retailers, brand managers, and executives. With analysis tailored to commercial strategy, the insights help professionals assess how fiscal policy shapes retail operations, profitability, and investment decisions.
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Oct- 2025 -14 OctoberEconomy
Retail sales edge up 2.3% in September as food spending drives growth
UK total retail sales rose by 2.3% year on year in September, up from growth of 2% in September 2024 and above the 12-month average increase of 2.1%, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC) KPMG Retail Sales Monitor. Food sales increased by 4.3% on the year, compared with 2.3%…
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13 OctoberHigh Street
150,000 retail jobs at risk without business rate reform, Co-op warns
Around 60,000 small shops and 150,000 jobs could disappear without business rates reform, according to new research from Co-op. If reforms are not delivered, 10% of small high street business owners say they would need to lay off staff, and one in eight say they would be at risk of…
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10 OctoberEconomy
Gen Z spending to top £26bn in 2025, report finds
Gen Z’s spending is set to drive over £26bn of retail spending in 2025, rising to almost £40bn over the next decade, according to research by RSM UK and Retail Economics. While this cohort’s spending power is forecast to keep climbing, it is also expected to keep prioritising saving and…
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9 OctoberHigh Street
Shoplifting surge a ‘low-level war’ on high streets, warns Iceland chair
Britain’s rise in shoplifting has become a “low-level war going on every day”, Iceland chair Richard Walker has said, urging retailers and the government to treat the problem as a serious threat to the high street. Speaking at the Financial Times’ Future of Retail conference, Walker said that thefts were…
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7 OctoberSupermarkets
B&M shares fall as profits slide 28% to £198m
B&M has seen its shares slide in early trading after it revealed its pre-tax profits fell 28% to £198m, down from £274m, in the six months to the end of September. The performance comes despite seeing revenues improve 4% to £2.7bn, primarily driven by B&M UK volume growth and ASP…
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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 -30 SeptemberDIY
Tapi Carpets FY profits almost double to £15.9m
Tapi Carpets has reported that its operating profits rose to £15.9m in the year to 28 December 2024, almost double the £8.1m posted a year earlier, owing to new store openings and the acquisition of former Carpetright outlets. During the period sales increased by 33% to £227m, which was supported…
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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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19 SeptemberEconomy
UK consumer confidence falters ahead of Autumn Budget
UK consumer confidence has dropped by two points to -19 in September ahead of the Autumn Budget, according to GfK’s latest long-running index. The survey revealed that all five measures declined in comparison to last month’s announcement. The index measuring changes in personal finances during the last year was down…
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