Retail jobs slashed as high costs lead to automation and outsourcing Retail The number of jobs offered by the UK’s largest private sector employer – retail – has dropped again, as companies shift to outsourcing and automation in an effort to deal with higher costs. This trend has been ongoing for some time, and is responsible for both job loss and a lack of job creation as [...]
Households cut back on spending at fastest pace in five years Economics According to figures published by Barclays, essential spending fell by 3.1 per cent in November, the sharpest monthly fall since 2019.
Lidl boss warns retailers are ‘reeling’ after Budget tax raid Retail The boss of budget supermarket Lidl has warned retailers are “reeling” following Labour’s tax raid in the Autumn Budget. The German supermarket’s UK boss Ryan McDonnell said the discount brand was staring down the barrel of “tens of millions of pounds” in extra costs. This comes after the Chancellor unveiled a £25.7bn tax-raising package, with [...]
Exclusive: Labour’s relationship with business ‘at a critical point’, retail boss warns November 19, 2024 If a week is a long time in politics, then four months in retail is a lifetime. When Helen Dickinson, the chief executive of the British Retail Consortium (BRC), last sat down with City AM in late July, she could hardly have been more effusive in her praise for the incoming Chancellor and her business [...]
UK retail sales pick up as summer finally heats up August 6, 2024 Retail sales returned to growth in July after the long-awaited summer boost for retail finally arrived along with the warmer weather. Total retail sales increased by 0.5 per cent year on year in July, up from the three-month average growth rate of 0.3 per cent, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC)-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor [...]
The Queen of Shops: Helen Dickinson on Brexit, Labour and the changing face of retail August 5, 2024 Ali Lyon sits down with the head of the British Retail Consortium to discuss Brexit, Labour and the changing face of retail
Savers sees profit jump after cutting hundreds of jobs July 8, 2024 Budget health and beauty retailer Savers has seen its profit jump after shedding almost 300 jobs amid "another tough year for retail", according to newly-filed documents.
Shop price inflation drops to lowest level since October 2021 as retailers slash prices on TVs July 2, 2024 Retailers slashing prices on TVs to capitalise on the Euros helped push shop price inflation to its lowest level since October 2021.
Attacks on retail shop workers to become separate criminal offence April 10, 2024 Assaulting a shop worker will become a separate criminal offence in England and Wales following a recent wave in retail crime.
Wettest February on record leads to poor month for retail March 5, 2024 New figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) showed that retail sales increased 1.1 per cent in the year to February, down from 5.2 per cent last year and below the three-month average of 1.4 per cent.