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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Jan- 2025 -9 JanuaryEconomy
BRC warns of 2025 headwinds despite lower Xmas inflation
Consumers benefited from lower inflation for the week to 7 December 2024, according to the latest BRC-Nielsen IQ Shop Price Index, yet the British Retail Consortium anticipates fresh headwinds for the new year. The later timing of Black Friday in 2024 meant that the first week of December included the…
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8 JanuaryFeatures
Revitalising London’s high streets: a BID’s vision for retail
The significance of bricks-and-mortar experiences remains paramount. Steve Medway, CEO of Knightsbridge Partnership and King’s Road Partnership, two Business Improvement Districts (BIDs), is reshaping some of London’s most iconic areas. With decades of experience in retail and BID management, Medway shares valuable insights into the challenges, strategies, and future of…
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7 JanuaryHigh Street
BRC warns of 2025 falling sales volume despite December sales growth
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has warned of possible falling sales volume in 2025 despite the modest increase in total retail sales experienced in December 2024. UK total retail sales in December 2024 increased by 3.2% year on year, against a growth of 1.9% in December 2023, according to new…
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6 JanuaryClothing & Shoes
New Look to speed up planned closures ahead of tax changes
New Look is reportedly set to permanently shutter roughly a quarter of its 364 stores when leases expire, putting some of its 8,000 staff at risk, according to The Times. While the retailer has restructured its store portfolio twice in the past six years and downsized from 600 UK stores…
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Dec- 2024 -23 DecemberNews-In-Brief
Today’s news in brief-23/12/24
Fashion retailer Quiz plans to delist from the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) and re-register as a private company following weak sales and financial strain. A shareholder vote, requiring a 75% majority, is scheduled for 8 January 2025, with the transition set for 23 January if approved. The company cited regulatory…
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23 DecemberHigh Street
BRC warns of ‘spending squeeze’ in January
The British Retail Consortium has warned of a January spending squeeze, as BRC-Opinium data between 10 and 13 December showed that people’s spending intentions dropped 6pts. It comes as public confidence in the state of the economy “took a nosedive”, falling 8pts to -27, creating a widening gap between expectations…
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23 DecemberEconomy
UK economy heading for ‘worst of all worlds’, CBI warns
The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has warned that the UK economy is headed for “the worst of all worlds” as business activity is set to decline at the start of the new year. Private sector firms expect activity to fall in the three months to March (weighted balance of…
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6 DecemberSupermarkets
Morrisons CEO urges gov to rethink budget costs
Morrisons’ CEO has called on the government to stagger its “avalanche” of business costs following the latest budget.Speaking to The Sun, Rami Baitieh urged Labour to consider the costs of National Insurance changes, business rates rises and the increase in minimum wage. He told the paper that National Insurance changes…
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Nov- 2024 -28 NovemberEconomy
Consumer confidence remains weak as Christmas approaches
Consumer confidence remains weak in the run up to Christmas, according to the the British Retail Consortium (BRC)-Opinium Consumer Sentiment Monitor. It comes as the survey found that consumer’s expectations for their personal financial situation improved slightly to -3 in November, up from -4 in October. Meanwhile, their expectations for…
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28 NovemberSupermarkets
John Lewis ‘worried’ about increase in National Minimum Wage
John Lewis has told the Telegraph that it is “worried” about the impact of Rachel Reeve’s decision to increase the National Minimum Wage. As part of the budget, the chancellor confirmed that the National Minimum Wage for 18 to 20-year-olds will rise 16.8% from £8.60 to £10, while pay for…
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