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.
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Jul- 2025 -25 JulyHigh Street
Shoplifting cases jump 20% to record 530,000, ONS finds
Shoplifting offences in England and Wales have surged 20% to their highest level in more than two decades, according to the latest official figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). According to data for the year to March 2025, police recorded exactly 530,643 shoplifting offences, which spells a 20%…
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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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22 JulyHigh Street
Independent retailers warn of ‘mounting pressure’ as half consider closure
More than half of the UK’s independent retailers have considered closing their business, according to a new survey from Spring and Autumn Fair and Save The High Street.org. Some 63.4% of respondents cited reduced customer spending and footfall as their greatest challenge, followed by competition from online platforms (57.4%) and…
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21 JulyLuxury Goods
Burberry CEO calls for VAT-free shopping return
Burberry CEO Joshua Schulman has called on the government to reinstate VAT-free shopping for international visitors claiming it will help Britain become Europe’s top shopping destination once again. Schulman told The Times that international consumers were “still not shopping in the UK to the extent that we would like” as…
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16 JulySupermarkets
Sainsbury’s boss hails government food security plan
Sainsbury’s CEO Simon Roberts has welcomed the government’s Good Food Cycle plan which aims to build a “thriving food sector”. The government has described the plan as “a recipe aimed at driving a generational change in the nation’s relationship with food”. The new initiative focuses on ten priority outcomes which…
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15 JulyHigh Street
Warm weather and promotions boost retail sales 3.1% in June
Total UK retail sales grew by 3.1% year-on-year in June, reversing a 0.2% decline in the same month last year, as the summer heatwave and promotions elevated performance, according to the latest BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor. It comes as food sales rose 4.1% compared with a 1.8% increase in June…
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14 JulyGovernment
Reeves eyes business rates rise for supermarkets and department stores
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is reportedly considering increasing business rates for department stores and supermarkets as she looks to raise £1.7bn from businesses this autumn, according to The Telegraph. The outlet revealed that the chancellor is looking to plug the £5bn hole left after the government was forced to abandon cuts…
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4 JulyHigh Street
High street sales falter in June as shoppers go online
High street sales growth continued to lag behind inflation in June, as shoppers turned to online retailers, according to new data from BDO. The firm’s latest High Street Sales Tracker showed like-for-like in-store sales in discretionary categories – fashion, homewares and lifestyle – rose by just 0.6% compared to June…
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1 JulyEconomy
Shop prices return to inflation as retailers struggle to shoulder costs
Shop price inflation increased to 0.4% year on year in June, compared with a decline of 0.1% in May, as retailers grappled with increases to minimum wage and employer national insurance costs. Furthermore, non-food inflation increased to -1.2% year on year in June, against a decline of 1.5% in May.…
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Jun- 2025 -17 JuneHigh Street
Oxford Street pedestrianisation gets go-ahead
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has revealed that the planned pedestrianisation of Oxford Street has been given the green light. The mayor’s office stated that its consultation showed that around seven in 10 back the Oxford Street transformation plans, with two-thirds specifically supporting the idea of pedestrianisation. Alongside this, major…
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