BRC news and archive

UK: Footfall slows in May despite consumer sentiment improving

Footfall across the UK showed a “modest decline” in May, despite an improvement in consumer sentiment and favourable weather conditions. Over the four weeks to May 31, footfall decreased 1.7 percent year-on-year, according to data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Sensormatic, down from a more sizable uptick of 7.2 percent in April....

Retail

UK retailers welcome two billion pound funding for police

UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves outlined a more than two billion pound increase in police spending as part of the government’s latest two trillion pound Spending Review. Reeves outlined the plans during a speech on June 11, in which she said the funding reflected a 2.3 percent per year increase in police spending power “to protect our people, our...

Retail

UK sheds 93,000 retail jobs in a year

Retail jobs have continued to fall over the year as the “rising tide of employment costs” hit the industry. According to the latest figures by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), there were 2.76 million retail jobs in March 2025, 93,000 fewer than at the same point last year. When compared to 2015, this figure was 364,000 less than data...

Retail

UK: Consumers hold back on fashion spending as confidence lowers

Total retail sales in the UK increased only marginally for the four weeks to May 31, 2025, as consumers held back spending on non-essential goods. Over the period, sales increased 1 percent year on year, against a growth of 0.7 percent in May 2024, according to figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and KPMG. While food sales were more...

Retail

Shop prices remain in deflation, unwinding promotions slow movement in fashion

New figures by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and NielsenIQ have shown shop prices remained in deflation for the period May 1 to 7, yet heavy promotional activity in fashion slowed movement. Overall deflation was unchanged at 0.1 percent year-on-year during the reported period, against a decline of 0.1 percent in April. This came above the...

Retail

UK: Inflation rises in April yet clothing prices fall

Inflation rose for the month of April in the UK, as increased business rates associated with the government’s Budget impacted consumer-facing prices. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), headline inflation rose 3.5 percent in the 12 months to April, up from 2.6 percent over 12 months to March. Things did improve for the...

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Business

In wake of tariffs: UK fashion and retail band together on call for VAT-free shopping

A new letter issued to Rachel Reeves, is calling on the UK Chancellor to consider reinstating a tax-free shopping scheme as concerns mount over tariffs. The letter, seen by FashionUnited, was signed by the CEOs of Walpole, the British Retail Consortium (BRC), the British Beauty Council and the British Fashion Council (BFC), each representing...

Retail

UK: Retail sales welcome YoY increase in April due to warm weather

Retail sales in the UK rose 7 percent year-on-year in April, according to new figures by the British Retail Consortium (BRC), as a later Easter holiday helped boost activity. This was a significant uptick on the decline of 4 percent reported in April 2024, and also above the three-month average growth of 2.9 percent, data shows. With March and...

Retail

UK: Footfall increases significantly in April as holiday dates shift

Footfall took a 7.2 percent year-on-year leap in April as dates for the Easter holidays shifted from those in 2024. This was also a positive change on the 5.4 percent decrease reported in March, according to new figures by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Sensormatic. When considering just March and April together, and thus cancelling out...

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Business

UK: Trade war impacts consumer economy sentiments despite spending rising

Donald Trump’s now infamous ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs have had an impact on consumer expectations of the UK economy, new figures by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Opinium have suggested. Consumer expectations for over the next three months have now dropped to -48 in April, down from -35 in March. Personal financial situations have also...

Retail

Retail sales marginally increase in March despite shift in holidays

New figures by KPMG-British Retail Consortium (BRC) have shown a slight increase in UK retail sales for the month of March, despite a shift in date for Easter that distorts the year-on-year sales comparisons. With this in mind, retail sales for the month rose 1.1 percent YoY, against a growth of 3.5 percent in March 2024. This came below the...

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Business

Business rates reform absent from spring statement: concerns for retailers

In her first spring statement and second budget as UK Chancellor, Rachel Reeves presented a plan aimed at kick-starting the country’s faltering economy. In her statement on Wednesday, the UK’s first female Chancellor admitted that “growth is still not where it should be” but nonetheless reiterated the government's decision to raise the National...