Office for National Statistics
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Jul- 2025 -11 JulyEconomy
Economy unexpectedly shrinks 0.1% in May
Monthly real gross domestic product (GDP) unexpectedly fell 0.1% in May 2025, following an unrevised fall of 0.3% in April 2025 and growth of 0.4% in March 2025, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Gross domestic product (GDP) rose by 0.5% in the three…
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7 JulyClothing & Shoes
H&M latest retailer to trial staff body cameras
H&M has started trialling body-worn cameras for its staff in the UK as retailers seek to address rising levels of theft and violence in stores. According to This is Money, the Swedish fashion retailer is testing the equipment at branches in Edinburgh, Wood Green and Beckton in London. It follows…
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Jun- 2025 -20 JuneHigh Street
Retail sales see sharpest monthly fall since December 2023
Retail sales volumes fell by 2.7% in May, according to the latest retail sales figures from the ONS, marking the sharpest monthly decline since December 2023. The fall followed a revised 1.3% rise in April and was driven largely by reduced spending in food stores and weaker sales of clothing…
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18 JuneEconomy
Inflation eases to 3.4% in May amid falling air prices
Inflation eased to 3.4% in May 2025, down from 3.5% in the 12 months to April, as rising food prices were offset by falling air fares, according to the latest figures from the Office for national statistics. However, the fall comes with a caveat: the ONS has since revealed that…
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10 JuneHigh Street
ONS Data: Retail loses over 360,000 jobs in a decade
Retail has lost over 360,000 jobs in the past decade, according to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), further highlighting the difficulties the sector is facing. The figures show there were 2.76 million jobs in retail in March 2025, while the four-quarter average, which smooths out…
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May- 2025 -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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15 MayNews-In-Brief
Today’s news in brief-15/5/25
B&M has appointed former Tesco executive Tjeerd Jegen as its new CEO, effective 16 June 2025. Jegen brings 25 years of retail experience from companies including Ahold Delhaize and Woolworths. Chair Tiffany Hall praised his strategic insight and customer-centric approach. Despite a 3.1% drop in UK like-for-like sales to £4.5bn…
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15 MayEconomy
UK economy grows by more than expected 0.7% in Q1
The UK economy performed better than expected in the first quarter of the year, with GDP growing by 0.7% between January and March, following a 0.1% rise the prior quarter. This was ahead of analysts’ expectations, who had forecast a growth of 0.6% for the period. According to the Office…
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Apr- 2025 -16 April
Today’s news in brief-16/4/25
Inflation in the UK fell more than expected to 2.6% in March 2025, down from 2.8% in February, driven by declines in petrol prices and recreation and culture costs, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The largest downward contributions came from motor fuels, housing, and household services, while…
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11 AprilNews-In-Brief
Today’s news in brief-11/4/25
Uniqlo owner Fast Retailing has raised its profit forecast for the third consecutive year, driven by strong sales in Japan and key international markets, including Europe, North America, and Southeast Asia. The company reported a 12% rise in revenue to JPY 1.79trn (£12.28bn) and an 18.3% increase in profit for…
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