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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Sep- 2025 -18 SeptemberSupermarkets
Morrisons sales rise 3% in Q3 as online business strengthens
Morrisons has seen like-for-like sales grow by 3.0% in its third quarter, despite rising inflation and “challenging” macroeconomic conditions, marking the eleventh consecutive quarter of like-for-like sales growth. Over the period, total sales rose by 3.5% to £4.0bn, bolstered by a strong online performance which saw double-digit like-for-like growth, making…
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17 SeptemberEconomy
Inflation holds steady at 3.8% but food prices on the rise
Inflation held steady last month, with a reported rise of 3.8% in the 12 months to August 2025, unchanged from July’s figures. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the August and July figures mark the joint-highest recorded since January 2024, when the rate was 4.0%. It comes as…
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16 SeptemberFeatures
Why Inditex is betting on speed while rivals retract
Fashion retail is in a moment of reckoning. Inflation, freight costs and currency headwinds are pressuring margins across the board, while digital disruption continues to reshape how consumers shop. Many players have responded by scaling back their physical footprint, trimming overheads, or leaning heavily into online channels. But Inditex, the…
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16 SeptemberSupermarkets
Autumn budget could hit festive spending, warns Aldi CEO
The UK chief executive of Aldi has warned that the timing of the government’s late November budget could dampen consumer spending in the run-up to Christmas. Speaking to The Guardian, Giles Hurley said uncertainty around the measures chancellor Rachel Reeves will announce to address the fiscal gap in public finances…
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11 SeptemberDepartment Stores
John Lewis H1 losses widen amid tax and budget costs
The John Lewis Partnership has fallen to a £34m loss in the first half of the year, up from a £5m loss the same period last year, attributing the widened loss to a new packaging tax and the effects of the budget. Excluding exceptional items, losses almost tripled from £33m…
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9 SeptemberHigh Street
Pret to trial new meal deal format amid strong FY24 sales
Pret A Manger has announced its plans to trial new meal deal formats later this year to capture demand for value-led food-to-go, as the company set out a new medium-term strategy to accelerate growth in its home market and internationally. The news comes after Pret reported sales of £1.2bn for…
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9 SeptemberEconomy
Retail sales rise 3.1% in August due to warmer weather
UK retail sales grew 3.1% in August compared with the same month last year, marking a stronger end to the summer thanks to warmer weather, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC). The figures, covering the four weeks from 3 to 30 August, were above the 12-month average growth of…
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5 SeptemberEconomy
Retail sales rise 0.6% in July boosted by footwear and clothing
Retail sales in the UK rose 0.6% across July, after increasing 0.3% in the previous month, according to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). This increase was driven by clothing and footwear sales, which rose 2.5% in the period, with non-store retailing sales volumes up 2.5%. Furthermore, household…
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Aug- 2025 -26 AugustHigh Street
Business rates ‘double hit’ to cost English firms £2.5bn
Businesses the length and breadth of England are “staring down the barrel” of a £2.5bn hike in property taxes from April 2026, as inflation and a new government stealth tax will combine to drive up business rates bills, according to analysis by global tax firm Ryan. A nationwide revaluation of…
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26 AugustEconomy
Shop price inflation hits 18-month high in first week of August
Shop price inflation increased to 0.9% year on year in the week ended 7 August, an 18-month high, according to data from the British Retail Consortium. This increase came against growth of 0.7% in July and was above the three-month average inflation of 0.6%, driven by price hikes across butter,…
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