All Business rates articles
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Chart of the WeekExplainer: Why the business rates freeze is worse than the status quo for big retailers
Chancellor John Healey announced a “real-terms freeze” on business rates for shops in the Budget, capping rises in their bills at inflation for the next two years.
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Opinion‘Marmalade and gherkin Budget was just tinkering around the edges’
The country needs a vision and a growth plan, but this week’s Budget makes zero difference to economic growth, fears Charlotte Hardie
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AnalysisRise in business rates bill wipes out last year’s savings for retail chains, analysis shows
Following the Budget, big retailers will pay more, wiping out the savings they made from last year’s reform.
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AnalysisBudget 2026: What’s in it for retail and how has the sector responded?
Business rates support for small businesses, online VAT reforms and more money for councils and mayors top the list of measures announced in the Budget.
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NewsBRC: Eight in 10 adults worried about rising prices
Over 80% of British consumers are concerned by rising food prices and inflation ahead of today’s Budget, according to new research by the British Retail Consortium.
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NewsRising inflation to slap businesses with extra £1.1bn rates bill next year
Surging inflation in September has left retail and hospitality businesses facing a £1.1bn increase in business rates in England from April 2027.
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AnalysisRetail hopes for the best and prepares for the worst ahead of the Budget
With all eyes focused on the Budget, retail hopes new management doesn’t make the mistakes of the old
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NewsRetail and hospitality chiefs make business rates plea
Leaders of more than 200 businesses have written to chancellor John Healey ahead of the Budget calling for fundamental reform of business rates.
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Opinion‘After two years of increasing business costs, this Budget must break the cycle’
This Budget is an opportunity to change course on business costs, believes BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson, who met the chancellor this week to press retail’s case
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NewsM&S and John Lewis bosses urge chancellor to cut tax burden
The bosses of two major UK retailers, Marks & Spencer and John Lewis, have urged the chancellor to cut the tax burden facing high street retailers.
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NewsCost of living pressures are Brits’ top Budget priority
Polling commissioned by the BRC found that nearly nine out of 10 UK adults want the government to prioritise reducing the cost of living, while four in five believe action is needed on youth unemployment.
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NewsRetail and hospitality carry the highest effective tax rates in the UK, BRC data finds
Retail and hospitality pay more tax relative to their profits than any other sector of the UK economy, according to new analysis commissioned by the British Retail Consortium.
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NewsRetailers warn warehouse tax could push up cost of weekly shop
Supermarkets have warned prime minister Andy Burnham that he risks worsening the cost-of-living crisis if he launches a tax raid on warehouses.
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Opinion‘When London’s West End succeeds, the UK does too’
Ahead of the Labour Party conference, Dee Corsi, chief executive of the New West End Company, makes the case for rates reform, action on crime, and policies that will drive growth
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AnalysisThe last four governments have tried to fix the high street. What can Burnham learn from their failures?
Andy Burnham announced a new taskforce in early September, promising to finally fix Britain’s high streets. Four governments have promised similar plans and commissioned their own reviews since 2011. Every one of them is still sitting on a shelf in Whitehall.
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NewsBadenoch vows to lower retail costs and restore tax-free shopping
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has told Retail Week she would lower costs for retailers to support job creation if she were to win the next election, but ruled out widespread business rates reform. Separately, she has pledged to bring back tax-free shopping for overseas visitors.
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NewsWickes sales and profits rise as trade business achieves record sign ups
Wickes boss David Wood hailed “another period of strong volume-led performance”, as Wickes sales and profits for the half rose driven by record signs up for the retailer’s trade business.
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Opinion‘New jobs campaign should raise retail’s currency in corridors of power’
For once there were warm words from Westminster about retailers. The industry’s launch of a drive to address the NEETs employment crisis should help ensure their voice is heard on other issues, believes George MacDonald
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NewsRetail sales cool as blazing hot summer ends
UK consumer demand cooled in August, as a summer marked by relentless heatwaves drew to an end.
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NewsBRC calls for retail ‘Budget boost’ after sluggish August footfall
The British Retail Consortium has called on the government to give retail a “Budget boost” after the secured endured a sluggish August.