Business Rates
This coverage examines business rates policy and its implications for the UK retail sector. Reporting focuses on government decisions, reforms, rate relief measures, and their impact on store operations, profitability, and investment decisions. Tailored for retail executives and managers, it provides analysis to help navigate costs, advocate for change, and plan effectively in response to fiscal pressures.
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Mar- 2024 -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 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 MarchNews
Today’s news in brief-4/1/24
M&S emerged victorious against Michael Gove’s decision to block its redevelopment plans for its Marble Arch flagship branch. The High Court ruled that Gove’s decision was “unlawful” and had misinterpreted planning policy. This decision paves the way for M&S to proceed with its plans, which include demolishing the existing Art…
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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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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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21 FebruaryElectrical
Currys shareholder Redwheel warns of stock market decline
Currys’ largest shareholder, Redwheel, has warned that more foreign firms will begin to circle London companies after the electronics retailer rejected a takeover bid from US hedge fund Elliott, The Telegraph has reported. Redwheel, which holds 14.6% of shares in Currys, said it was in “complete agreement” with the retailer’s…
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21 FebruaryDepartment Stores
Angling Direct sees group revenues rise to £81.7m
Fishing tackle retailer Angling Direct has reported a 10.2% increase in revenue to £81.7m for the year ended 31 January 2024, despite facing a “challenging” consumer landscape and disruption to fishing caused by storms in the final few weeks of FY24. The group’s UK store sales were up 7.6% to…
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6 FebruaryEconomy
Retail sales slow as high cost of living enters third year
UK total retail sales increased by 1.2% year on year for the four weeks ended 27 January 2023, compared with a growth of 4.2% in January 2023, according to data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC). This was above the three-month average growth of 1.9% and below the 12-month average…
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5 FebruaryClothing & Shoes
Jeremy Hunt to review tourist tax ahead of Budget
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has reportedly asked the Office for Budget Responsibility to look at whether the scrapping of VAT-free shopping for tourists should be reversed, delivering a much-needed boost to Britain’s retail and leisure sectors, according to The Sunday Times. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has been asked to…
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