Overview
- CBI’s latest retailer survey reports December trading as poor and forecasts January will be the weakest month since March 2021.
- Official ONS figures show retail sales volumes slipped 0.1% in November, indicating a softer than expected Black Friday period.
- Retailers say both in‑store and online purchases declined in December, with online sales expected to contract sharply next month.
- Sector leaders highlight rising business rates, higher employer National Insurance, a steep minimum wage uplift and new workers’ rights as mounting cost pressures.
- Opposition figures blame Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s Budget for damping spending, while the Treasury says its plan delivers stability, lowers borrowing and helps bring down inflation.