Overview

• The CBI's retail sales balance registered -32 in August, little changed from -34 in July after -46 in June.
• Retailers reported a selling‑price balance of +65 for the 12 months to August, the quickest pace since November 2023, with a slower +43 expected in September.
• CBI economist Martin Sartorius said the downbeat outlook is prompting plans to scale back investment and hiring.
• Employers report added strain from April's increase in employer employment taxes alongside a sharp minimum wage rise, according to survey feedback cited in coverage.
• The British Retail Consortium warns up to one in ten retail jobs could be at risk over three years, while the Weil European Distress Index highlights high interest rates, cost inflation and weak spending as key pressures.