Helen Dickinson

Today’s news in brief-11/2/25

Fast fashion giant Shein has scrapped plans to open a UK warehouse in the Midlands, initially intended to support its anticipated £50bn London Stock Exchange listing. The company had explored sites in Derby, Coventry, and other locations but confirmed no immediate need for a UK facility. The decision follows mounting…

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Retail sales increase 2.6% despite ‘stormy’ January

UK total retail sales increased by 2.6% year-on-year in January, against a growth of 1.2% in January 2024, as consumer sentiment remained resilient despite stormy weather, according to the latest figures from the BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor. This growth was above the three-month average growth of 1.1% and above the…

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The rising tide of crime in UK stores

2025 has dawned with a bleak reality for the UK retail sector. Once a thriving cornerstone of the high street and beyond, retailers now find themselves on the frontline of a growing crime wave. Violence, theft, and abuse are no longer isolated incidents but daily occurrences that shape the working…

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BRC: Retail crime ‘out of control’ as theft losses hit record £2.2bn

The BRC has said that retail crime is “out of control” after its Annual Crime Survey figures revealed that losses from customer theft reached a record £2.2bn in 2023/24. The association said the figures come as more incidents have been linked to organised crime, with gangs “systematically” targeting stores.  This…

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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…

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Is New Look right to close up shops?

The tax increases unveiled in the October 2024 budget have further complicated the outlook for retailers in the new year. One such high street retailer, New Look, which has managed to narrow its pre-tax loss to £21.7m in the year to March 2024, now faces the difficult task of balancing…

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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…

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Today’s news in brief-9/1/25

The BRC-Nielsen IQ Shop Price Index showed shop price deflation at 1% in early December, up from 0.6% the previous month, reflecting strong discounting tied to a later Black Friday. Non-food prices fell sharply by 2.4%, though food inflation remained steady at 1.8%, its lowest since December 2021. BRC CEO…

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BRC warns of 2025 headwinds despite lower Xmas inflation

Consumers benefited from lower inflation for the week to 7 December 2024, according to the latest BRC-Nielsen IQ Shop Price Index, yet the British Retail Consortium anticipates fresh headwinds for the new year.  The later timing of Black Friday in 2024 meant that the first week of December included the…

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BRC warns of 2025 falling sales volume despite December sales growth

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has warned of possible falling sales volume in 2025 despite the modest increase in total retail sales experienced in December 2024. UK total retail sales in December 2024 increased by 3.2% year on year, against a growth of 1.9% in December 2023, according to new…

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