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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Mar- 2024 -25 MarchEconomy
Scottish retailers’ rates bills to rise by £31m, the SRC says
Shops in Scotland will see their annual business rates bills rise by £31m from next week, the Scottish Retail Consortium announced. The change follows the decision in the Scottish Government’s Budget to increase the business rate for firms occupying 22,120 medium-sized and larger commercial premises by 6.7% in 2024-25. This…
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20 MarchComment
How can the physical retail sector win its battle to survive?
It is well known that the high street is battling for survival. Insolvency statistics released this month show a 17% increase in company insolvencies compared to this month last year, with the retail sector particularly badly hit. With the closure of many Body Shop stores already confirmed this year, and…
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7 MarchNews
Today’s news in brief-7/3/24
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) criticised Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s Spring Budget, stating that it lacked initiatives to boost investment and growth in communities, particularly for retail businesses. Despite calls to reduce business rates and reintroduce tax-free shopping for tourists, Hunt’s budget did not address these concerns. The BRC emphasised the…
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7 MarchEconomy
Budget will ‘do nothing to turbocharge investment’, says BRC
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has stated that the latest Budget announcement will “do nothing to turbocharge investment and growth in communities”. This comes after Chancellor Jeremy Hunt revealed his Spring Budget without many big giveaways for retail businesses. Hunt resisted calls from business leaders to reduce business rates, reintroduce…
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6 MarchEconomy
Chancellor cuts NI by a further 2p as part of Spring Budget
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has announced a further 2p cut to National Insurance, falling from 10% to 8% from 6 April, as part of his Spring Budget for “long-term growth”. The reduction in National Insurance is expected to save the average worker £450 a year, or £350 for those who are…
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5 MarchFeatures
What are the effects of VAT taxes on the tourism industry?
The term “tourism tax” has recently been used to refer to taxes imposed on goods and services supplied to international tourists. Up until 31 December 2020, VAT-free shopping enabled international visitors in the UK to get a VAT refund on goods purchased in the UK, making them 20% cheaper. Recently,…
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5 MarchEconomy
Retail sales underperform in February
UK total retail sales rose by 1.1% year-on-year during the four-week period ended 24 February, against a growth of 5.2% last year and below the three-month average growth of 1.4%, according to the BRC. The BRC has attributed the poor retail sales to February 2024 being “the wettest on record”. …
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4 MarchDepartment Stores
M&S CEO calls for business rates and apprenticeship levy reform
M&S CEO Stuart Machin has publicly called for Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to introduce reforms to business rates and the apprenticeship levy in his upcoming budget. In a post on LinkedIn, Machin stated that the government must do more to understand the importance of retail. He has urged the chancellor to…
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4 MarchClothing & Shoes
Retail records fifth consecutive month of negative sales, BDO finds
Total in-store and online sales have dropped -1.3% in February, marking the fifth consecutive month of negative sales results, according to new data from BDO’s High Street Sales Tracker. BDO’s data, which looks at sales across discretionary spend categories, showed that despite online sales growing by +2.9% compared with last…
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Feb- 2024 -27 FebruaryNews
Shop price inflation drops to 2.5% in February
Shop price annual inflation eased to 2.5% in February, down from 2.9% in January, new figures from the BRC have revealed. The analysis shows that February’s figures are below the three-month average rate of 3.3% and that shop price annual growth is its lowest since March 2022. Non-food inflation was…
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