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.
-
Nov- 2025 -14 NovemberDIY
DFS hails strong early trading as order intake rises
DFS Furniture said it had made a solid start to its new financial year, reporting higher order intake and improved margins across the first 19 weeks of its trading period ended 9 November 2025. The group said its scale, vertical integration and use of data continued to support performance, adding…
Read More » -
13 NovemberEconomy
UK economy slows to 0.1% in third quarter
The UK’s economic growth slowed to 0.1% in the third quarter, falling short of expectations from City analysts and the Bank of England (BoE). The Office for National Statistics said monthly output slipped 0.1% in September, with earlier figures for July and August revised down. The data arrives ahead of…
Read More » -
12 NovemberHigh Street
82% of shoppers to use promotions this Christmas, says Blackhawk
Over 80% of shoppers across Europe are planning to use price promotions such as buy one get one free to save money this Christmas, according to a survey from Blackhawk Network. Furthermore, nearly half (47%) also expect to use ‘buy now, pay later’ or earn-a-gift-card incentives, signalling that value added…
Read More » -
12 NovemberSupermarkets
Supermarket sales growth slows ahead of Black Friday
Total Till sales at UK supermarkets rose by 3.2% in the four weeks to 1 November 2025, according to new data from market researcher NielsenIQ (NIQ). The figure marks a slowdown from 4.1% growth in September, as shoppers held off spending in anticipation of seasonal promotions such as Black Friday…
Read More » -
11 NovemberSupermarkets
Grocery inflation eases to 4.7% as supermarkets step up Xmas promotions
Grocery price inflation slowed to 4.7% this month as supermarkets stepped up promotions ahead of Christmas, according to new data from Worldpanel by Numerator. Take-home sales at grocers rose by 3.2% in the four weeks to 2 November compared with the same period last year, with spending on promoted items…
Read More » -
11 NovemberHigh Street
Retail sales slow in October as shoppers hold off for Black Friday
UK retail sales rose by 1.6% year on year in October, down from growth of 0.6% a year earlier and below the 12-month average of 2.1%, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and KPMG. Food sales increased by 3.5% in October, matching the 12-month average and up from 2.6%…
Read More » -
10 NovemberSupermarkets
Co-op to open 50 new stores before Christmas
Co-op has revealed plans to open more than 50 new or transformed stores across the UK before Christmas. The openings, which takes Co-op’s investment to more than £200m over 2024/25 in over 200 new and transformed stores, are a variety of formats and locations. As part of the 50, Co-op…
Read More » -
7 NovemberEntertainment
Footfall drops for sixth consecutive month as shoppers await Budget impact
Retail footfall across the UK fell by 0.7% year on year in October, marking the sixth consecutive monthly decline as shoppers remained wary ahead of a possible tax-raising Budget, according to new BRC-Sensormatic Solutions data. Although footfall continued to remain down, the four-week period to 1 November showed an improvement…
Read More » -
6 NovemberEconomy
BoE holds interest rates at 4% ahead of Budget
The Bank of England (BoE) has voted to keep interest rates steady at 4% ahead of the upcoming Budget announcement on 26 November. The bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted by a majority of five to four to maintain the rate, with four members voting to reduce it by 0.25…
Read More » -
6 NovemberAdvice
How does installing an EV charging hub boost the value of your retail site?
The transition to EVs is not just a shift in how people purchase vehicles, it is a fundamental realignment of which businesses can profit from the expansion of transport infrastructure. Retail site owners are well positioned to capitalise on this change, as the market has shifted from the presence of…
Read More »
