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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Jan- 2025 -9 JanuaryDepartment Stores
M&S celebrates bumper Xmas as sales top £4bn
M&S has reported a successful Christmas trading update as its total group sales increased by 5.6% to £4bn in the 13 weeks to 28 December 2024. The group’s food sales increased 8.7%, with LFL sales up 8.9%. Core categories, such as meat, produce, grocery and in-store bakery grew double-digits as…
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7 JanuaryNews
Bestway Retail removes fuel levy charge for Costcutter stores
Bestway Retail has announced the removal of the fuel levy charge, previously at £3.66 per delivery, for all mainland Costcutter stores for deliveries made on or after 1 January 2025. In addition to lifting the fuel levy charge, Bestway has also led the market in announcing an investment of more…
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3 January
Today’s news in brief-3/1/25
Revolution Beauty has resolved its legal dispute with former shareholder Chrysalis Investments through a confidential settlement. Despite earlier threats of claims exceeding £45m, the company paid a “non-material sum” under 1% of Chrysalis’s stock market value. The agreement involved no admission of liability, and Chrysalis dropped further legal action. Chrysalis…
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3 JanuaryFeatures
How to transform the world of cross-border e-commerce
In today’s interconnected world, cross-border e-commerce has become the lifeline for retailers looking to expand their markets, but the journey is often fraught with logistical, technological, and financial challenges. For Tony Preedy, Managing Director of Fruugo, simplifying this complex puzzle is the mission. Speaking to Talking Shop, Preedy shared how…
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3 JanuaryClothing & Shoes
End. swings to pre tax loss of £43.2m
High-end fashion and streetwear label End. has reported a pre-tax loss of £43.2m, down from a profit of £8.8m for the year ended 31 March 2024. The group’s revenues also plummeted 3.8% from £221m to £212.7m. It stated that the retail landscape remained challenging as macroeconomic pressures persisted both in…
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Dec- 2024 -19 DecemberEconomy
BoE holds interest rates at 4.75%
The Bank of England (BoE) has voted to hold interest rates at 4.75%, following a recent hike in both inflation and wage growth. At its meeting this week, the bank’s monetary policy committee voted by a majority of 6–3 to maintain the current rate. Three members voted to reduce interest rates…
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13 DecemberAnalysis
How China and ‘memory makers’ are shaping luxury retail trends
The global luxury retail market is at a turning point, navigating economic shifts, evolving consumer preferences, and new growth opportunities. Insights from Morningstar’s Luxury Landscape and other industry reports have explained what trends really shaped the luxury segment year, giving us a good idea of what to expect in 2025.…
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12 DecemberNews-In-Brief
Today’s news in brief-12/12/24
Central Group’s executive chair Tos Chirathivat admitted to overpaying in hindsight for Selfridges and other European luxury department stores as part of a £4bn deal in 2021. Chirathivat told the FT the price felt steep given rising global interest rates but noted the valuation may look more reasonable in a…
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12 DecemberDepartment Stores
Selfridges co-owner admits £4bn price was ‘too high’
Tos Chirathivat, the executive chair and CEO of Thai family conglomerate Central Group, said in a conversation with The Financial Times that it may have overpaid for its acquisition of Selfridges and other European luxury department stores as part of a £4bn deal in 2021. According to Chirathivat, whose group’s…
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Nov- 2024 -7 NovemberEconomy
Bank of England cuts interest rates to 4.75%
The Bank of England has cut interest rates for the second time this year, with rates now cut to 4.75%. The bank voted by a majority of 8–1 to reduce Bank Rate by 0.25 percentage points to 4.75%. One member preferred to maintain the previous rate of 5%. It had previously…
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