Overview

• The British Retail Consortium urges Chancellor Rachel Reeves to exclude shops from a proposed levy on properties with rateable values above £500,000.
• The trade body says including supermarkets and flagship stores could affect about 4,000 large premises and keep food inflation above 5% into next year.
• Treasury plans would cut business rates for smaller premises by increasing charges on larger properties, with details being finalised for the 26 November Autumn Budget.
• Official data show overall inflation at about 3.8% and food prices rising near 5%, and the Bank of England paused a rate cut last week citing food‑price pressures.
• A BRC survey reports most people are most worried about prices outpacing wages, underscoring concern over further retail cost increases.