BRC news and archive

Footfall drops in October marking sixth consecutive months of decline

New figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) have shown what is now the sixth consecutive month of decreasing footfall this year as consumer confidence remains weak across the UK. According to BRC-Sensormatic, total UK footfall fell 0.7 percent in October compared to the year prior. This came above the 1.8 percent decrease reported in...

Retail

UK retail sales increase in September yet shoppers delay clothing purchases

New figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) suggest a 2.3 percent year-on-year uptick in total retail sales for the month of September, as food sales drive performance. The figure came slightly ahead of September 2024, and was above the 12-month average growth rate of 2.1 percent. While food sales increased 4.3 percent, non-food sales...

Retail

UK Conservatives pledge to scrap business rates for high street retailers

The UK’s Conservative party has said they would abolish business rates for high street businesses, including retailers and pubs, if they were to win the next election. During a conference in Manchester, shadow chancellor Mel Stride said “the burden of Labour’s tax rises” have been "simply too much to bear”. Stride further claimed that 89,000...

Retail

Packaging EPR tax to “push up prices” for consumers

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) is calling on the UK government to provide “great clarity” on how consumers and the environment will benefit from the new Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme. New figures from the BRC reveal that more than 80 percent of the costs of the new packaging tax, which came into effect at the start of the...

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Business

400 of Britain’s largest shops at risk, BRC warn

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) is warning that 400 large-format stores, from department stores to supermarkets, are at risk of closure if the Government forces them into its proposed higher business rates tax band. New research from the BRC reveals that large stores would be at risk if they are included in the Government’s new business...

People

Former Matalan CEO Jo Whitfield names chair of BRC

Jo Whitfield, retail veteran and former chief executive for Matalan, has been appointed chair of the British Retail Consortium (BRC). She will succeed Andy Higginson, whose tenure comes to an end on October 2. Whitfield, who is the first female chair of the BRC, brings to the role 25 years of experience in retail, having previously served in...

Retail

July retail sales rise yet fashion experiences bumpy ride

Total retail sales across the UK rose by 2.5 percent year-on-year in July, according to new data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC). While warm weather at the beginning of the month encouraged activity, the eventual return of rain impacted sales, particularly in fashion. “Fashion sold well early in the month, but deteriorated as weather...

Retail

Retail finance chiefs sound alarm over tax burden and inflation risks

A new survey from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) has revealed mounting concern among retail finance leaders, as fears grow that government policy is fuelling inflation, job losses, and reduced investment across the high street. With the Chancellor preparing his next Budget, 56 percent of retail CFOs described their outlook for the coming...

Retail

UK: Inflation rises despite discounting in fashion sector

Inflation in the UK rose to 0.7 percent year-on-year in July, largely driven by increased prices among food. While non-food inflation rose to -1.0 percent, against a decline of -1.2 percent in June, food inflation rose to 4 percent YoY, according to new figures by the British Retail Consortium (BRC). The increase comes despite discounting in...

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Business

Retail crime in England and Wales hits 20-year high

Shoplifting in England and Wales has surged to its highest level in over two decades, according to the latest figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). In the year to March 2025, police recorded over 530,000 shoplifting offences, a 20 percent increase on the previous year and the highest number since current recording methods...

Retail

Clothing welcomes modest growth as retail sales edge up in June

Total retail sales in the UK rose by 3.1 percent year-on-year in June, as soaring temperatures and sports events encouraged shoppers. This was against a decline of 0.2 percent reported in June 2024, according to data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and KPMG. While food sales were up 4.1 percent, non-food sales rose 2.2 percent YoY,...

Retail

Heatwave drives consumers inside impacting June footfall

While in the months prior, glimpses of the summer sun brought shoppers outside, for June, a major heatwave kept them in. During the five weeks to July 5, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) reported a 1.8 percent year-on-year drop in total UK footfall, with “extreme weather” cited as the primary cause. Footfall fell across all shopping...