The British Independent Retail Association (Bira) has called on the Chancellor to urgently reconsider business rates relief following new figures showing sharp job losses in the retail sector. Official data from HMRC reveals that employment in wholesale and retail fell by 1.7% in December 2025, with 72,000 fewer people employed compared to the same period
Bira calls for business rates relief for retailers Read More »
The British Independent Retailers Association has welcomed the support from the Chancellor in the Autumn Statement announced today. However the group has also warned that tough times still lie ahead with consumer confidence declining. In the plans released on Thursday, 17 November, it was announced that National Living Wage will be increased by 9.7% to
Bira welcomes Autumn Statement as support for Britain’s High Street Read More »
The Office for National Statistics has reported that retail sales volumes rose by 1.4% in April 2022 following a fall of 1.2% in March 2022 (revised from a fall of 1.4%); sales volumes were 4.1% above their pre-coronavirus (COVID-19) February 2020 levels. In the three months to April 2022, sales volumes fell by 0.3% when
Indie retailers are feeling the squeeze Read More »
The Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT) came into place on 1st April 2022 – here, the British Independent Retailers Consortium (bira) explains what you need to do and how it could affect your business. The plastic packaging tax has been introduced to provide an incentive for businesses to use recycled materials in plastic packaging. The goal
Plastic Packaging Tax takes effect Read More »
Alarm bells are ringing with high street business owners as Chancellor Rishi Sunak prepares to release his Spring Statement today, Wednesday March 23. New ONS figures show that the consumer price index hit 6.2pc in February, up from 5.5pc the previous month and higher than the 6 per cent forecast in the highest annual increase
Alarm bells ring on the high street as cost of living spirals Read More »
Record sales at John Lewis have prompted the department store giant to restore its staff bonuses, albeit with the warning that the crisis in Ukraine will further impact the cost of living. A £46mn pot will be shared between employees, equating to a 3 per cent bonus (one and a half week’s pay). A 2
John Lewis restores staff bonuses Read More »
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