Helen Dickinson

Retail sales rise 5.1% in April

Total retail sales increased by 5.1% in April 2023, against a decline of 0.3% in the same month last year, according to the BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor. This is in line with the three-month average growth of 5.1% and above the 12-month average growth of 3.0%. Like-for-like retail sales increased…

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Shop price inflation falls for first time in 2023

Shop price inflation is thought to have peaked in the first week of April, according to the BRC, after it declined to 8.8%, down slightly from 8.9% in March. Despite the fall, it remains at record-highs in some areas, and continued to exceed the three-month average of 8.7%. Meanwhile, food…

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Retailers cautious to invest as retail vacancies plateau

The overall vacancy rate for retail units in the UK remained at 13.8% of Q1 in 2023, the same rate it was at for Q4 2022, according to data from the British Retail Consortium. However, this figure was 0.3 percentage points better when compared with the same period last year.…

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Retailers urge government for recycling reform

Retailers are calling on the government to urgently rethink its proposed recycling reforms due to concerns that the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme is fundamentally flawed. Without significant investment in recycling infrastructure in Britain, households in the UK could be footing the bill for EPR without any meaningful improvements to…

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UK retail sales jump 5.1% in March

Total retail sales in the UK were up 5.1% in March according to data from the British Retail Consortium and KPMG. This is above the three-month average growth of 4.8% and the 12-month average growth of 2.6% for the five weeks between 26 February and 1 April. Like-for-like retail sales…

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Shop price inflation grows to 8.9% in March

The British Retail Consortium found that for the first seven days of March annual shop price inflation increased to 8.9% from 8.4% in February. This is above the 3-month average rate of 8.4%, bringing shop price growth to a new high.  Meanwhile, non-food inflation accelerated to 5.9% in March, up…

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Retailers welcome budget but ‘missed opportunity’ for rates reform

Retail has welcomed the support for households in the face of the cost of living crisis in the chancellor’s Spring Budget but some have criticised it as a “missed opportunity” for business rates reform. Headline measures announced by the chancellor included an increase in corporation tax to 25% for businesses…

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Retail jobs at lowest four quarter average in over a decade

The number of retail jobs in the UK was down to its lowest average four quarter level in over a decade, according to ONS Labour Market figures. The four quarter average dropped to 3.05 million retail jobs in December 2022, down from 3.08 million in December 2021. The overall number…

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UK sales receive Valentine’s Day boost despite inflation

February retail sales have benefited from Valentine’s Day but numbers remain low compared to last year, according to the latest British Retail Consortium (BRC) survey.  The analysis, which was monitored by BRC and the consultancy KPMG, shows that UK total retail sales increased by 5.2% in February, against an increase…

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Retail leaders criticise business rates reform

Retail bosses from M&S, Sainsbury’s and Currys have criticised the changes made to business rates, according to This is Money.  According to the retailers, these changes will still leave high streets and shopping centres still facing high taxes, as the new business rates are charged on shops, pubs and other…

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