Employer National Insurance Contributions
This coverage explores Employer National Insurance Contributions and their impact on UK retail businesses, offering insights for executives, managers, and HR professionals. Reporting covers regulatory changes, cost implications, workforce planning, and strategies to manage employer obligations within the retail sector. The analysis helps professionals understand how contributions affect staffing costs, compliance, and business operations.
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Dec- 2025 -8 DecemberSupermarkets
Iceland boss to be appointed Labour peer
Iceland chairman Richard Walker is set to be appointed to the House of Lords as a Labour peer, according to reports from the BBC. Walker left the Conservative Party in 2023, and was later seen at the launch of Labour’s manifesto for the 2024 general election. Labour party sources told…
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Oct- 2025 -28 OctoberHigh Street
Rates hike threatens 500 big high street outlets, trade bodies warn
UKHospitality and the British Retail Consortium (BRC) have called on the government to exempt hospitality and retail outlets from a proposed business rates surcharge that would apply to 5,000 high street properties with a rateable value above £500,000. The trade bodies warned that around 500 premises could be at risk…
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28 OctoberEconomy
Shop price inflation slows to 1% in October amid retailer discounting
Shop price inflation eased to 1.0% year on year in October, down from 1.4% in September, as competition led to widespread discounting, according to the latest British Retail Consortium (BRC) figures. The rate was marginally below the three-month average of 1.1%. It comes as Non-food prices fell by 0.4% year…
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27 OctoberSupermarkets
Supermarkets urge chancellor to drop new rates surtax
Nine of Britain’s biggest supermarket chains have called on chancellor Rachel Reeves to exclude large retail stores from the government’s proposed business rates surtax, warning it would add pressure to food prices. The letter, organised by the British Retail Consortium (BRC), was signed by the heads of Aldi, Asda, Iceland,…
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9 OctoberHigh Street
Shoplifting surge a ‘low-level war’ on high streets, warns Iceland chair
Britain’s rise in shoplifting has become a “low-level war going on every day”, Iceland chair Richard Walker has said, urging retailers and the government to treat the problem as a serious threat to the high street. Speaking at the Financial Times’ Future of Retail conference, Walker said that thefts were…
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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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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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Jul- 2025 -21 JulyHigh Street
Retail insolvencies hit 72,000 as risks mount for firms
More than 72,000 UK retail businesses are now technically insolvent, with over half at imminent risk of closure, according to analysis by accountancy firm Price Bailey. The firm said exactly 72,625 retailers, which represents about 15% of the sector, have negative net assets on their balance sheets. Of these, 37,332…
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May- 2025 -27 MayEconomy
Fresh food prices drive food inflation up 2.8% in May
Food inflation increased to 2.8% year-on-year in May, rising for the fourth consecutive month, driven by a surge in the cost of fresh food, according to the BRC-NIQ Shop Price Index. It found that Fresh Food inflation increased to 2.4%, against growth of 1.8% in April. This is above the…
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23 MayEconomy
Retail sales beat expectations in April
Retail sales volumes increased 1.2% in April 2025, up from a rise of 0.1% in March 2025, marking the fourth consecutive month of growth and easily beating forecasts of 0.2%. Food store sales increased 3.9%, mostly recovering from falls in February and March 2025. Supermarkets, specialist food stores such as…
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