Rachel Reeves
This coverage analyses Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ fiscal policies and their implications for the UK retail sector. Reporting focuses on tax reforms, business rates adjustments, labour cost policies, and trade measures affecting retail operations and strategy. Retail executives, finance managers, and policy specialists can use these insights to understand how government decisions shape the retail business environment and inform strategic planning.
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Mar- 2025 -7 MarchHigh Street
HMV halts UK expansion amid rising wage costs
HMV has halted its UK expansion in anticipation of the rising wage costs due to commence next month, and will open stores in Ireland and Belgium instead, The Guardian has reported. According to managing director Phil Halliday, HMV had ambitions to open as many as 10 additional stores in the…
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Feb- 2025 -26 FebruaryHigh Street
M&S and John Lewis top list for highest female board representation
M&S and John Lewis are among several retailers who are leading the way for gender equality in boardrooms. According to the FTSE Women Leaders Review report for 2025, women now occupy nearly 43% – or a total of 1,275 – of roles on company boards in the UK. A number…
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13 FebruaryEconomy
Economy unexpectedly grows by 0.1% in Q4
Britain’s economy unexpectedly grew in the final quarter of 2024, according to new figures from the Office for National Statistics, easing pressure on chancellor Rachel Reeves.Gross domestic product (GDP) rose by 0.1% in the fourth quarter of 2024, after zero growth the previous quarter, beating forecasts of economists and the…
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10 FebruarySupermarkets
UK retailers still facing ‘mountain of costs’, M&S CEO warns
M&S CEO Stuart Machin has warned that UK retailers are still facing a mountain of costs despite Rachel Reeve’s push for growth. Writing in the Sunday Times, Machin said that the government should lighten “the burden” the budget has loaded on the retail sector, claiming that the industry is being…
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3 FebruarySupermarkets
Iceland boss criticises chancellor over farmer inheritance tax
The managing director of Iceland has criticised the chancellor’s inheritance tax raid on farmers, despite the Labour-backing boss previously voicing his support of the new budget.Richard Walker said that Rachel Reeves should prioritise online sales tax reform instead of targeting farmers with higher death duties, according to The Telegraph. He…
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Jan- 2025 -29 JanuaryNews-In-Brief
Today’s news in brief-29/1/25
Lord Wolfson, CEO of Next and Conservative peer, has leveraged his House of Lords position to propose amendments phasing in upcoming National Insurance (NI) reforms. The budget measures, effective April, will raise employers’ NI contributions from 13.2% to 15% and lower the secondary threshold to £5,000 annually. Wolfson supports staggered…
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29 JanuaryDepartment Stores
Next CEO uses Lords status to lodge amendments to NI bill
The CEO of Next, Lord Wolfson, has reportedly used his position in the House of Lords to table amendments aimed at phasing in the upcoming changes to employers’ national insurance contributions, The Times has reported.The measures outlined in the budget will see employers’ national insurance contributions rise from 13.2% to…
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15 JanuaryNews-In-Brief
Today’s news in brief-15/1/25
Inflation in the UK unexpectedly fell to 2.5% in December, marking its first decline in three months, according to the ONS. The decrease, attributed to reduced hotel and tobacco prices despite rising fuel costs, exceeded expectations, as analysts had predicted inflation would remain steady at 2.6%. While inflation remains above…
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15 JanuaryEconomy
Inflation unexpectedly falls to 2.5% in December
The rate of Consumer Price Index inflation unexpectedly fell one percentage point to 2.5% in December, dipping for the first time in three months, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). It comes as hotel prices fell and tobacco costs eased, which have been credited with helping offset a…
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10 JanuaryNews-In-Brief
Today’s news in brief-10/1/25
Shein is reportedly planning a London IPO by mid-2025, with Easter 20 April as a possible completion date if regulatory approval is secured. Rachel Reeves, UK Shadow Chancellor, is visiting China for economic talks, accompanied by Britain’s Financial Conduct Authority head, potentially advancing Shein’s IPO progress. Meanwhile, scrutiny from MPs…
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