Spring Budget
This coverage explores the UK Spring Budget and its implications for the retail sector, offering insights for executives, managers, and industry professionals. Reporting includes analysis of fiscal measures, tax changes, business rates, employment policy, and economic forecasts, helping professionals understand how budget decisions affect retail operations, strategy, and profitability.
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Mar- 2025 -31 MarchFeatures
Spring Budget 2025: what it means for the retail industry
The UK retail sector has been navigating a volatile economic landscape, with rising operational costs, shifts in consumer spending, and policy changes placing unprecedented pressure on businesses. The Spring Budget 2025, delivered by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, was highly anticipated by industry leaders, who had hoped for measures that would alleviate…
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Sep- 2024 -2 SeptemberHigh Street
End of tax-free shopping hitting retail hard, warns Kurt Geiger CEO
Kurt Geiger’s CEO has warned that scrapping tax-free shopping for tourists is having a “massively negative effect” on retail in the UK. According to The Times, Neil Clifford said tourists were now travelling to other European countries for their shopping after the scheme was scrapped in 2021. Under the scheme,…
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May- 2024 -2 MayNews
Retail bosses lose confidence in tax-free shopping return
Retail bosses have reportedly warned the government that the decision not to restore tax-free shopping for international tourists will have a knock-on effect on other industries, according to The Times. Janine Constantin-Russell, boss of the outlet shopping centre at the O2 Arena, has accused the government of not paying attention…
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Mar- 2024 -20 MarchComment
How can the physical retail sector win its battle to survive?
It is well known that the high street is battling for survival. Insolvency statistics released this month show a 17% increase in company insolvencies compared to this month last year, with the retail sector particularly badly hit. With the closure of many Body Shop stores already confirmed this year, and…
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7 MarchNews
Today’s news in brief-7/3/24
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) criticised Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s Spring Budget, stating that it lacked initiatives to boost investment and growth in communities, particularly for retail businesses. Despite calls to reduce business rates and reintroduce tax-free shopping for tourists, Hunt’s budget did not address these concerns. The BRC emphasised the…
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7 MarchEconomy
Budget will ‘do nothing to turbocharge investment’, says BRC
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has stated that the latest Budget announcement will “do nothing to turbocharge investment and growth in communities”. This comes after Chancellor Jeremy Hunt revealed his Spring Budget without many big giveaways for retail businesses. Hunt resisted calls from business leaders to reduce business rates, reintroduce…
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6 MarchEconomy
Chancellor cuts NI by a further 2p as part of Spring Budget
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has announced a further 2p cut to National Insurance, falling from 10% to 8% from 6 April, as part of his Spring Budget for “long-term growth”. The reduction in National Insurance is expected to save the average worker £450 a year, or £350 for those who are…
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5 MarchFeatures
What are the effects of VAT taxes on the tourism industry?
The term “tourism tax” has recently been used to refer to taxes imposed on goods and services supplied to international tourists. Up until 31 December 2020, VAT-free shopping enabled international visitors in the UK to get a VAT refund on goods purchased in the UK, making them 20% cheaper. Recently,…
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4 MarchDepartment Stores
M&S CEO calls for business rates and apprenticeship levy reform
M&S CEO Stuart Machin has publicly called for Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to introduce reforms to business rates and the apprenticeship levy in his upcoming budget. In a post on LinkedIn, Machin stated that the government must do more to understand the importance of retail. He has urged the chancellor to…
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Feb- 2024 -27 FebruaryNews
Shop price inflation drops to 2.5% in February
Shop price annual inflation eased to 2.5% in February, down from 2.9% in January, new figures from the BRC have revealed. The analysis shows that February’s figures are below the three-month average rate of 3.3% and that shop price annual growth is its lowest since March 2022. Non-food inflation was…
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