National Insurance
This coverage explores the impact of National Insurance policies and changes on the UK retail sector, focusing on employer contributions, payroll costs, regulatory compliance, and workforce planning. Reporting highlights how retailers adjust strategies to manage costs and meet obligations — providing insight for executives, managers, and HR professionals overseeing financial and operational planning.
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Jan- 2025 -7 JanuaryNews-In-Brief
Today’s news in brief-7/1/25
Quiz has announced plans to delist from the London Stock Exchange, citing regulatory costs and financial pressures. The move requires a 75% shareholder majority, with founder Tarak Ramzan and key investors supporting the decision. Quiz reported a £4.7m pre-tax loss in the six months to 30 September, driven by inflationary…
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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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7 JanuaryHigh Street
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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7 JanuaryClothing & Shoes
Next raises profit guidance as festive sales beat expectations
Next has revealed that it has raised its full-year pre-tax profit guidance by £5m up to £1.01bn after a better than expected quarter. In this quarter, full price sales rose 6% in the nine weeks to 28 December, beating the previous guidance for the fourth quarter of 3.5%. It stated…
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6 JanuaryNews-In-Brief
Today’s news in brief-6/1/25
Fast-fashion retailer Shein is set to face scrutiny from a Parliamentary Committee over labour practices in its supply chain. The inquiry, part of the government’s employment rights initiative, also involves Chinese firm Temu. The committee, chaired by ex-Labour minister Liam Byrne, aims to tackle forced labour concerns and inadequate protection…
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6 JanuaryNews
Waterstones plans dozens of new bookshops in 2025
Waterstones chief executive James Daunt plans to open dozens of new bookshops this year, according to the FT. Daunt, who is also the boss of Barnes and Noble in the US, oversaw the opening of 57 stores in the US and 12 in the UK during the year and now…
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6 JanuaryClothing & Shoes
New Look to speed up planned closures ahead of tax changes
New Look is reportedly set to permanently shutter roughly a quarter of its 364 stores when leases expire, putting some of its 8,000 staff at risk, according to The Times. While the retailer has restructured its store portfolio twice in the past six years and downsized from 600 UK stores…
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Dec- 2024 -18 DecemberHigh Street
Shoe Zone halves profit guidance and warns of store closures
Shoe Zone has halved its profit expectations for the year to 27 September 2025, downgrading it to “no less than” £5m, down from the previous guidance of £10m. It comes as the high street shoe retailer experienced “very challenging trading conditions” for the first two months of FY25 and the…
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18 DecemberEconomy
Inflation hits eight-month high of 2.6% in November
Inflation has risen for the second month in a row, rising to 2.6% in November, up from 2.3% the previous month, marking the highest level of inflation in eight months. According to the Office for National Statistics, the main drivers behind the rise were fuel and clothing, where prices rose this…
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12 DecemberElectrical
Currys HY losses narrow as it warns of price rises
Currys has posted a loss before tax of £10m for the half year ended 26 October 2024, up from £44m in the same period last year. Alongside this, the company posted a revenue of £3.9bn, up 1% year-on-year and driven by a like-for-like revenue increase of 2%. As part of…
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