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Greenwashing: BRC boss warns retailers could pull back on eco-friendly practices

Helen Dickinson, the chief executive of the British Retail Consortium (BRC), has warned that a stricter approach to enforcing greenwashing regulations could cause retailers to take a step back with sustainability. Speaking to The Times, Dickinson said that there was “a real risk [retailers] will pull back and not feel confident to shout about...

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BusinessFeatured

UK’s Spring Budget: What to know and how the industry is responding

Jeremy Hunt outlined his Spring Budget earlier this week and, like his prior Autumn Statement, was met with mixed reactions from the retail industry as a whole. His speech to MPs began by outlining the government’s achievement of lowering inflation from 11 percent, when prime minister Rishi Sunak came into office, to 4 percent, which Hunt said “...

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Retail

UK retail sees uptick, but challenges remain for retailers

In response to the latest ONS Retail Sales Index figures, which indicated a 5.2 percent increase in sales by value and a 0.7 percent increase by volume, Kris Hamer, Director of Insight at the British Retail Consortium, conveyed optimistic sentiments. Sales volumes witnessed an uptick for the second time in three months, marking a positive shift...

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Retail

BRC: UK retail crime rises to 1,300 incidents a day

A new report by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) has shown that the number of incidents of violence and abuse against retail workers in the UK has risen to 1,300 a day. This reflected a 50 percent increase in the levels of retail violence, the organisation’s research noted, which covered the course of 2022 to 2023. Next to this, the cost of...

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BusinessFeatured

UK falls into recession, retail industry takes hit

While it is no secret that the past year has proven to be a financially turbulent one for the UK, new data has revealed that the region had in fact fallen into recession during the final three months of last year, as the economy continued to take a hit. According to figures by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the UK’s gross domestic...

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Retail

UK retailers continue to face difficult trading conditions

In the latest retail footfall analysis covering the four weeks from December 31, 2023, to January 27, 2024, BRC-Sensormatic IQ data reveals a continued decline in UK footfall. Total UK footfall decreased by 2.8 percent year-on-year (YoY) in January, showing a slight improvement from the 5.0 percent decline in December. High Street footfall...

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RetailFeatured

Consumers switch to cash as budget tightens, according to BRC

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has published the results of its latest BRC Payments Survey 2023, in which it outlined transactions and spending figures for the year. Compared to 2022, UK retail sales rose 4.3 percent to 439.5 billion pounds, an increase that was largely attributed to increased costs throughout the supply chain and the...

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BusinessFeatured

Retailers express mixed feelings towards Autumn Statement, living wage boosted

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt delivered his highly anticipated Autumn Statement at the House of Commons yesterday, and has since been met with a mixed bag of reactions from the retail industry, much of which was expecting much more in the way of assistance. Among the new measures, Hunt announced that business rates would be frozen for smaller...

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Retail

Cautious consumers impact retail sales amid continued inflation

New figures published by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) have found that high inflation is continuing to impact sales across the UK, as cautious consumers pull back on spending ahead of the holiday season. Over the four weeks from October 1 to 28, the region’s total retail sales had increased 2.5 percent, up from the previous year’s 1.6...

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Retail

Retail sales slow in September, warm weather impacts fashion

UK retail sales slowed over the past month, as the cost of living crisis continues to ravage the nation and warmer weather impacted the sales of autumn clothing stock. Over the five weeks spanning August 27 to September 30, total retail sales increased 2.7 percent, only slightly up from the 2.2 percent in the same period last year. Non-food...

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Retail

BRC calls on retailers to make ‘meaningful change’ through D&I strategies

A report by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) has found that 66 percent of retailers in the UK have no specific targets when it comes to diversity and inclusion (D&I), prompting the organisation to urge for more “meaningful change” in this area. Titled ‘Diversity and Inclusion in UK Retail’, the report, made alongside The MBS Group, did note...

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RetailFeatured

Retail vacancy rates stagnate amid rising costs

The increasing costs associated with running standalone stores are deterring retailers from investing in the UK's high street. These costs include rent, business rates, and utilities, which have been on the rise in recent years. As a result, retailers are exploring other avenues such as online sales and pop-up stores, which offer more...

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