Government
This coverage examines government actions, policies, and regulations affecting the UK retail industry. Reporting highlights legislation, consultations, economic measures, and public statements with direct implications for retail operations, employment, taxation, and consumer behaviour. Tailored for executives and managers, it offers analysis to support strategic planning and compliance in a changing regulatory and economic environment.
-
Jan- 2025 -28 JanuaryEconomy
January sales see shop price deflation hit 0 .7%
January sales helped shop price deflation reach 0.7% in January, above deflation of 1.0% in the previous month, as retailers attempted to attract post-Christmas shoppers, according to the latest figures from the BRC-NilesenIQ Shop Price Index. Shop price annual growth is at its lowest rate since August 2021 as non-food…
Read More » -
17 JanuaryEconomy
Retail sales unexpectedly fall amid ‘poor’ supermarket sales
Retail sales fell 0.3% in December according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics. It follows a 0.1% increase in November, revised down from a previous estimate of a 0.2% rise. Analysts had been expecting sales to rise by 0.4% in the run up to Christmas as…
Read More » -
16 JanuaryEconomy
UK economy narrowly returns to growth in November
The UK economy narrowly returned to growth in November as real gross domestic product (GDP) increased 0.1%, largely because of a growth in services. The increase comes after two consecutive months of decline, however, real GDP is estimated to have shown no growth in the three months to November 2024,…
Read More » -
15 JanuaryEconomy
NI increase will force retailers to raise prices, BRC warns
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has warned that the National Insurance Increase, set to come into place this April, will force retailers to put up prices after it found that two thirds of CFOs said they will do so in response to the change. The BRC said its survey of…
Read More » -
Dec- 2024 -13 DecemberNews
Consumer confidence improves marginally in December
Consumer confidence edged up in December as it increased by one point leaving “some room for optimism” despite the public being cautious with big purchases, GfK revealed. According to the latest index for the month, consumer confidence increased by one point reaching -17. Personal financial situation increased by two points…
Read More » -
9 DecemberAdvice
The gift card revolution: insights from Anna Uprichard
Gift cards have undergone a remarkable transformation in recent years, evolving from simple gestures of convenience into powerful tools that drive consumer behavior, boost employee morale, and support public welfare. Few know this space better than Anna Uprichard, vice president of commerce for Blackhawk Network (BHN), a global leader in…
Read More » -
6 DecemberNews
M&S gets go ahead for Marble Arch redevelopment site
Marks and Spencer has been given the green light for the redevelopment of the M&S store at Marble Arch. After a three-year battle, deputy prime minister Angela Rayner has approved the plans for the retailer to rebuild the store after they were initially submitted to Westminster City Council in 2021. …
Read More » -
Nov- 2024 -27 NovemberHigh Street
High street should ‘look beyond retail’, says new Lords report
The high street has been advised to “look beyond retail” in order to reverse its decline, according to a new report from the House of Lords. This is one of the conclusions of a new report, ‘High Streets: Life beyond retail?’, published today (27 November) by the cross-party House of…
Read More » -
26 NovemberNews
Halfords CEO calls for apprenticeship levy reform as sales drop 1% in H1
Halfords has called on the Government to reform the apprenticeship levy amid a 1% drop in revenues for the 26 weeks to 27 September 2024. Revenues for the retailer dropped to £864.8m in H1 FY25, compared to £873.5m in 2024. Autocentres, which accounts for 40% of total sales, reported a…
Read More » -
25 NovemberHigh Street
BRC urges public to give retail workers gift of a ‘safe Christmas’
Ahead of Black Friday and the busy festive period, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and its retail members are calling on the public to “stand together against violence and abuse towards retail workers this Christmas”. The BRC said Christmas is an “incredibly complex and challenging time of year” for the…
Read More »
