National Living Wage
This coverage explores the implications of the National Living Wage for UK retailers, including its impact on staffing costs, operational decisions, and workforce management. Reporting highlights wage policy changes, employer responses, legal obligations, and strategies to balance compliance with commercial performance — providing insight for retail executives, HR managers, and business owners navigating wage legislation.
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Aug- 2025 -11 AugustSupermarkets
Iceland links food price rises to Reeves’ budget measures
Iceland has warned that food prices will rise as suppliers pass on higher costs linked to last autumn’s budget measures, The Telegraph has reported. The supermarket said the increase in employers’ National Insurance contributions and the National Living Wage was pushing up its suppliers’ labour costs, which in turn were…
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Jul- 2025 -21 JulyHigh Street
Retail insolvencies hit 72,000 as risks mount for firms
More than 72,000 UK retail businesses are now technically insolvent, with over half at imminent risk of closure, according to analysis by accountancy firm Price Bailey. The firm said exactly 72,625 retailers, which represents about 15% of the sector, have negative net assets on their balance sheets. Of these, 37,332…
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21 JulyHigh Street
UK profit warnings jump 20% in Q2 as retailers feel the strain
Profit warnings issued by UK-listed companies rose by 20% in the second quarter of 2025, as policy and geopolitical uncertainty weighed on business confidence, according to new figures from consultancy EY-Parthenon. Companies issued 59 warnings between April and June, up from 49 in the same period last year. Nearly half…
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2 JulyDIY
Topps Tiles Q3 sales jump 10% amid boost in trade customers
Topps Tiles has revealed that its group adjusted sales increased 10.1% in the third quarter of the year, up 4.1% compared with H1 and 6.1% higher year-on-year. The tile retailer said its sales trajectory has improved across all divisions in the group, with Topps Tiles, Parkside and Online Pure Play…
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1 JulyEconomy
Shop prices return to inflation as retailers struggle to shoulder costs
Shop price inflation increased to 0.4% year on year in June, compared with a decline of 0.1% in May, as retailers grappled with increases to minimum wage and employer national insurance costs. Furthermore, non-food inflation increased to -1.2% year on year in June, against a decline of 1.5% in May.…
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Jun- 2025 -9 JuneHigh Street
One in 10 part-time retail jobs at risk by 2028, warns BRC
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has warned that around 160,000, or more than one in 10, part-time retail roles are in danger of being lost over the next three years. The warning follows a new report published by the BRC which lays bare the threats to retail employment, which has…
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May- 2025 -27 MayEconomy
Fresh food prices drive food inflation up 2.8% in May
Food inflation increased to 2.8% year-on-year in May, rising for the fourth consecutive month, driven by a surge in the cost of fresh food, according to the BRC-NIQ Shop Price Index. It found that Fresh Food inflation increased to 2.4%, against growth of 1.8% in April. This is above the…
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21 MayEconomy
Inflation jumps to 3.5% in April
Inflation increased to 3.5% in April, according to the latest figures for the Office for National Statistics (ONS), which it blamed on a “significant increase” in household bills. The 12-month inflation rate for housing and household services was 7.0% in April 2025, up from 5.1% in March. On a monthly…
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13 MayEconomy
Late Easter sees retail sales rise 7% in April
UK total retail sales increased by 7% year-on-year in April, against a decline of 4% in April 2024, according to the latest BRC-KPMG retail sales monitor. This was above the three-month average growth of 2.9% and above the 12-month average growth of 1.4%. However, the retail sales monitor clarifies as…
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7 MayHigh Street
Card Factory sales and profits rise in FY25 amid growth strategy
Card Factory has welcomed a year of “resilient” trading, with both revenues and profits rising as the group implemented its growth strategy and expanded its store portfolio and product offerings over the period. In the full-year ended 31 January 2025, adjusted profit before tax rose by 6.3% to £66m, while…
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