Interest Rates
This coverage explores UK interest rate movements and their impact on the retail industry, focusing on monetary policy decisions, borrowing costs, consumer spending, and retailer financing strategies. Reporting highlights how rate changes affect sales dynamics, investment planning, and operational budgets — providing insight for executives, finance leads, and business strategists navigating economic volatility.
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Nov- 2025 -13 NovemberEconomy
UK economy slows to 0.1% in third quarter
The UK’s economic growth slowed to 0.1% in the third quarter, falling short of expectations from City analysts and the Bank of England (BoE). The Office for National Statistics said monthly output slipped 0.1% in September, with earlier figures for July and August revised down. The data arrives ahead of…
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6 NovemberEconomy
BoE holds interest rates at 4% ahead of Budget
The Bank of England (BoE) has voted to keep interest rates steady at 4% ahead of the upcoming Budget announcement on 26 November. The bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted by a majority of five to four to maintain the rate, with four members voting to reduce it by 0.25…
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Oct- 2025 -28 OctoberDIY
OKA earnings fall to £1.7m in FY25
Home furnishings retailer OKA Direct Limited has seen adjusted EBITDA fall to £1.7m in its full-year results, down from £6.7m in the prior period, representing a margin of 4.7% compared with 12.1% in 2024. Gross margin declined to 64.9% from 68.9%, which the company attributed to fluctuating freight costs and…
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17 OctoberDIY
Ikea UK FY sales fall 2.1% to £2.25bn despite strong final quarter
Ikea UK has reported retail sales of £2.25bn for the 2025 financial year, a 2.1% decrease on the previous year’s £2.30bn. The retailer said the performance comes despite seeing sales strengthen in the final quarter, rising 3.3%, with the trend continuing into September 2025. Ikea added that amid limited national…
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2 OctoberHigh Street
Reeves set to scale back business rates plans for large retailers
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is reportedly planning to scale back plans to raise business rates on big retailers after warnings it could push up food prices, according to the Financial Times. The news comes after the Treasury had planned to put properties worth more than £500,000 into the highest tax band…
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Sep- 2025 -25 SeptemberDepartment Stores
DFS profits rebound to £32.9m
DFS has announced it has returned to profit in the year ended 29 June 2025, posting a profit-before-tax of £32.9m, up from a loss of £1.7m. Alongside this, the company saw its revenues jump 4.4% to £1.03bn, up from £987.1m in the previous year. It also saw its reported order…
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23 SeptemberHigh Street
BRC warns food inflation could stay above 5% until 2026
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has warned that food inflation could remain above 5% well into 2026 if the retail industry faces further tax rises in the Autumn Budget. The trade body said around 4,000 large shops could see higher bills under a government proposal to impose a new business…
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19 SeptemberEconomy
Retail sales rise as sunshine and rate cuts boost August trading
Retail sales rose in August, closing out the summer on a stronger footing, according to new data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The ONS Retail Sales Index showed a 3% year-on-year increase in sales by value and a 1.2% rise in sales by volume, marking the third consecutive…
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19 SeptemberEconomy
UK consumer confidence falters ahead of Autumn Budget
UK consumer confidence has dropped by two points to -19 in September ahead of the Autumn Budget, according to GfK’s latest long-running index. The survey revealed that all five measures declined in comparison to last month’s announcement. The index measuring changes in personal finances during the last year was down…
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18 SeptemberEconomy
BoE holds interest rates at 4%
The Bank of England (BoE) has voted to hold interest rates steady at 4% amid concerns around the recent rise in inflation. At a meeting this week, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted by a majority of 7–2 to maintain the rate, as two members voted to reduce it by…
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