Wales
This coverage highlights retail developments and economic trends specific to Wales, examining store openings and closures, regional sales performance, employment issues, and policy changes affecting the retail sector. Reporting provides retail managers and executives with insights into the unique challenges and opportunities shaping retail operations across Welsh towns and cities.
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Nov- 2025 -18 NovemberEconomy
Consumer confidence drops to four-month low ahead of Autumn Budget
UK consumer sentiment has weakened in November as households reported greater strain on finances and growing uncertainty ahead of the Autumn Budget, according to the latest S&P Global UK Consumer Sentiment Index. The index, which tracks financial wellbeing, labour market conditions, spending, savings and debt, fell to 45.2 in November…
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7 NovemberEntertainment
Footfall drops for sixth consecutive month as shoppers await Budget impact
Retail footfall across the UK fell by 0.7% year on year in October, marking the sixth consecutive monthly decline as shoppers remained wary ahead of a possible tax-raising Budget, according to new BRC-Sensormatic Solutions data. Although footfall continued to remain down, the four-week period to 1 November showed an improvement…
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Oct- 2025 -2 OctoberDepartment Stores
John Lewis appoints new chief people officer
The John Lewis Partnership has announced the appointment of Helen Webb OBE as its new chief people officer, joining the partnership on 24 November. Webb was most recently chief people officer at WHSmith, supporting the business through large scale employee changes, and prior to that was chief people and services…
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Sep- 2025 -11 SeptemberSupermarkets
Aldi invests £300m in price cuts
Aldi has revealed that it has invested more than £300m in price cuts since the start of 2025. The supermarket has reduced over 900 prices across its range in recent months, including fresh fruit and vegetables, bread, dairy and household essentials. Alongside this drive Aldi is set to open an…
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3 SeptemberHigh Street
Aldi expands InPost locker rollout to more than 500 UK stores
Aldi has fitted InPost parcel lockers at more than 500 of its UK stores, with further installations planned in the coming months. The supermarket now offers the service at 536 sites across England, Scotland and Wales and aims to increase this to at least 600 stores by the end of…
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Aug- 2025 -29 AugustSupermarkets
Aldi unveils bigger than expected pay rise for staff
Aldi has announced it will lift hourly pay for over 28,000 UK store employees beyond its previously announced increase, “reinforcing its commitment to never be beaten on pay”. From 1 September, the rate for store assistants will move from £12.75 to £13.02 an hour (rising to £13.95 with service), while…
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26 AugustHigh Street
Business rates ‘double hit’ to cost English firms £2.5bn
Businesses the length and breadth of England are “staring down the barrel” of a £2.5bn hike in property taxes from April 2026, as inflation and a new government stealth tax will combine to drive up business rates bills, according to analysis by global tax firm Ryan. A nationwide revaluation of…
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15 AugustSupermarkets
Aldi to upgrade more than 20 stores by end of 2025
Aldi is set to upgrade more than 20 of its UK stores before the end of the year, including two major extensions in Cumbria and Wales. Its stores in Barrow-in-Furness and Ebbw Vale will undergo full-scale extensions between now and December, while a further 21 sites will receive internal improvements…
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15 AugustSupermarkets
Lidl announces fifth pay rise in two years
Lidl GB will increase hourly pay rates for store and warehouse staff from September, marking its fifth wage rise in two years. Entry-level pay will rise from £12.75 to £13.00 nationally, increasing to £13.95 depending on length of service. In London, hourly rates will increase from £14.00 to £14.35, rising…
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8 AugustEconomy
Footfall declines in July for second consecutive year
UK footfall fell by 0.4% year on year in July, according to data from the British Retail Consortium–Sensormatic IQ, marking a second consecutive year of decline for the month. The figure was a slight improvement on June’s 1.8% fall. High street footfall declined by 1.7%, compared with a 3.0% drop…
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