Cost of Living
This coverage examines how the UK’s ongoing cost-of-living crisis is reshaping the retail landscape. Reporting includes the impact of rising operational costs—such as increased National Insurance contributions and higher minimum wages—on retailers’ margins and employment decisions. Additionally, the content highlights shifts in consumer behaviour, with shoppers prioritising value and reducing discretionary spending. The analysis also addresses the broader economic implications, including store closures and job losses, providing insights for retail professionals navigating these challenges.
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Oct- 2025 -23 OctoberEconomy
Usdaw welcomes 6.7% rise in real Living Wage
Retail trade union Usdaw has welcomed a 6.7% increase in the real Living Wage, describing it as “a welcome boost for the lowest-paid workers”. It comes as the Living Wage Foundation announced yesterday (22 October) that the new rates will rise to £13.45 per hour across the UK and £14.80…
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Sep- 2025 -23 SeptemberHigh Street
BRC warns food inflation could stay above 5% until 2026
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has warned that food inflation could remain above 5% well into 2026 if the retail industry faces further tax rises in the Autumn Budget. The trade body said around 4,000 large shops could see higher bills under a government proposal to impose a new business…
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17 SeptemberSupermarkets
Total till sales rise 4.1% amid back to school rush
Total Till sales at UK supermarkets grew (+4.1%) in the last four weeks ending 6th September 2025, up from the +3.7% recorded in August, signalled by the end of Summer holidays as shoppers shifted focus to back to school items and preparations for Christmas celebrations. According to the latest data…
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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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2 SeptemberClothing & Shoes
Levi’s UK warns rising ‘anti-Americanism’ could damage brand
Levi’s UK has warned that a risk of “rising Anti-Americanism” in light of Trump Tariffs and US governmental policies could drive consumers away from US brands and dent its sales in the UK. In its latest filings on Companies House, the group said that consumers may develop an “increasing willingness”…
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Aug- 2025 -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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21 AugustPeople Moves
Waitrose managing director James Bailey to step down
The John Lewis Partnership has announced that James Bailey will step down as managing director of Waitrose at the end of September after more than five years in the role. Bailey joined in 2020 and led the supermarket through the pandemic and the cost of living crisis. Under his leadership,…
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Jul- 2025 -24 JulyEconomy
Consumer confidence dips in July as inflation bites
Consumer confidence dipped in July as inflation and economic contraction weighed on household sentiment, new figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) show. According to the BRC-Opinium Consumer Sentiment Monitor, expectations for the UK economy over the next three months fell to -33, down from -28 in June. Forecasts for…
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15 JulyFeatures
From darling to downfall: what went wrong at Seraphine
Seraphine, once the darling of maternity fashion, has collapsed into administration. Known for its stylish bump-friendly dresses and famously worn by the Princess of Wales during her pregnancies, the brand entered administration this July, shuttering operations and making most of its staff redundant. For a label that grew from a…
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Jun- 2025 -10 JuneFeatures
The nostalgia trend: Why do companies revive old brands?
A cultural institution in the 90s, defunct in the 00s and making a comeback in the 20s. MFI Furniture is set to relaunch on the British high street after owner Victorian Plumbing revealed plans to relaunch the brand in early 2026, promising a refresh without the frustrations of long online…
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