Helen Dickinson
This coverage follows Helen Dickinson’s leadership and contributions to the UK retail industry. Reporting includes her public statements, policy advocacy, industry insights, and role in shaping retail strategies and government relations. Designed for senior retail professionals and decision-makers, it offers context on her influence over regulatory developments, sector challenges, and opportunities affecting retail operations and management.
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May- 2019 -8 MayEconomy
Retail sales ‘below expectation’ in April
Retail sales fell below expectations in April, despite a total sales increase of 4.1% against the decrease of 3.1% the previous year, according to the latest BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor. This was due to figures being “distorted” by the timing of the run-up to Easter, which was in April this…
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Apr- 2019 -25 AprilEconomy
74,400 retail jobs lost in first three months of 2019
The retail sector saw a 2.4% year-on-year drop in the number of employees in the first quarter of this year, equating to a loss of 74,400 jobs. According to the British Retail Consortium (BRC), this is a higher reduction than the 2.2% drop seen in 2018. The trade organisation said…
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9 AprilEconomy
Brexit uncertainty slows retail sales in March
UK retail sales decreased by 1.1% in March, compared with the increase of 1.4% in 2018, according to the latest BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor. Over the three months to March, in-store sales of non-food items declined 1.5% on a total basis and 1.7% on a like-for-like basis. This is above…
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3 AprilEconomy
Shop price inflation hits highest level in six years
Shop price inflation accelerated in March to 0.9%, up from 0.7% in February, the highest inflation rate since March 2013. The figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Nielsen’s Shop Price Index also revealed that food inflation had increased by 2.5% in March, up from 1.6% in February. This…
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1 AprilEconomy
Shops, pubs and restaurants to get £500m tax reprieve
Small firms on England’s embattled high streets are set to share in half a billion pounds worth of tax cuts as business rates bills are slashed, real estate adviser Altus Group has said. The government announced a business rates discount scheme for small sized high street properties in England which…
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Mar- 2019 -22 MarchHigh Street
Crime cost retailers £1.9bn last year
The British Retail Consortium’s (BRC) annual Retail Crime Survey has revealed the total cost of crime and crime prevention for retailers was £1.9bn last year. This was up 12% from the previous year (£1.7bn) and was made up of £900m direct cost from retail crime, and £1bn spent in efforts…
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11 MarchHigh Street
Feb footfall signals 15th month of decline
Footfall fell by 2% in February, a significant decline compared with the previous year, when it fell by 0.2%, and marks the fifteenth consecutive month of decline. According to the BRC’s figures it was also the weakest February in five years. High street footfall was found to have declined by 1.9%, marking seven consecutive months of weakening…
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5 MarchHigh Street
February retail growth hit by ‘Brexit uncertainty’
February retail growth was hit by “Brexit uncertainty” according to the BRC as on a total basis, sales increased by 0.5% in the month, a slowdown when compared with 1.6% in February 2018. This was found to be below both the three-month and 12-month averages of 0.9% and 1.2% respectively.…
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Feb- 2019 -27 FebruaryEconomy
Shop price inflation hits six-year high
Shop price inflation increased by 0.7% in February, up from 0.4% in January, and is the highest inflation rate since March 2013. According to the BRC, non-food prices rose by 0.2% year-on-year during the month, compared with the January decrease of 0.2%. Additionally, food inflation rose slightly to 1.6%, up…
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18 FebruaryGovernment
BRC hits out at HMRC over ‘unreasonable’ pay rules
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has demanded HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) ceases action against retailers who have breached pay rules deemed “no longer fit for purpose” by the trade body. Retailers called the minimum wage regulations and chasing from the taxman “unreasonable” while the regulations are under review by…
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