Economy
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NewsFootfall growth below expectations as Iran war weighs on confidence
Worries over the impact of the Middle East conflict on household budgets led to weaker retail footfall traffic than hoped for over the past month, new figures revealed this morning
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NewsRetail shares rally on news of Iran ceasefire – but worries remain
“Euphoria” over news of a ceasefire between the US and Iran prompted a rally in City shares on Wednesday, as investors bought back into disrupted stocks. UK retail shares leaped 5.3% on Wednesday, ahead of both FTSE 100 (2.5%) and FTSE 250 (4.1%)
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NewsOil prices drop and stocks rally after two-week ceasefire agreed by Iran
Ships will be given ‘safe passage’ through the Strait of Hormuz, freeing up around 20% of the world’s oil supply
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NewsFDF revises food inflation forecast to over 9% by end of 2026
The FDF has predicted food inflation will reach over 9% by the end of 2026, after revising its forecasts
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News‘Ripple of fear’ as consumers prepare to pull back on spending
It follows the dire update from the British Retail Consortium yesterday that consumer confidence had ‘collapsed’ as the war in the Middle East raised the prospect of higher inflation in the coming months
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NewsFood inflation falls, but Iran shock still to come
ONS statistics reported a 3% overall CPI rate, with falls in grocery and alcohol – down one point to 3.6% – counteracted by rising clothing costs
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NewsFood manufacturing costs outstripped CPI inflation in 2025
Data published this morning by the FDF showed production costs jumped 4.4% on average in 2025, compared with a 3.6% increase in the Consumer Price Index reported by the ONS
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NewsM&A appetite remains strong after 2025 uplift, figures show
Transaction numbers rose 9% year on year, with total deals up from 169 in 2024 to 184. This growth signalled renewed confidence across the market as economic conditions began to stabilise, said BDO
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NewsWet weather hits retail sales in February
The BRC warned conflict in the Middle East would drag on consumer sentiment
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NewsSoggy February compounds challenging conditions for retailers
Shoppers stayed off the high street in their droves in February as constant rain added to the challenges facing the UK retail industry, according to new data out this morning
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NewsConsumer confidence drops again as worries over job security set in
Consumer confidence has dropped again, wiping out modest improvements seen in December and January as shoppers worry about their personal finances and widespread job losses
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NewsFood manufacturer confidence remains negative, FDF report finds
Confidence at food makers improved in the golden quarter of 2025, but remained subdued as the industry battled rising production costs, a new report has found
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NewsRetail sales volumes up as discounting encouraged January spending
Increased discounting and sales prompted the largest increase in retail sales volumes in nearly two years in January, as consumers splashed out on bigger ticket items
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NewsInflation falls to lowest level in nearly a year
Inflation has fallen to 3%, its lowest point in almost a year, according to the latest ONS figures
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Analysis & FeaturesWhy the ONS changing its pricing methodology is so important
The ONS is hugely increasing the number of prices counted to calculate grocery inflation – with far-reaching implications
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NewsConsumers still penny-pinching despite hopes for economy
Consumer confidence fell by 1.1 points in the final quarter of 2025 to –11.1%, reaching its lowest ebb in two years of reporting by Deloitte’s Consumer Tracker
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News‘Robust’ year for dealmaking kept M&A afloat in 2025
Despite geopolitical uncertainty – including a start to the year dominated by news of new US tariffs – dealmaking remained steady
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NewsConsumer confidence stuck in negative territory
It has now been 10 years since the GfK consumer confidence index was last in positive territory, with a small rise this month to –16
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NewsInflation rises once again as tobacco and transport costs bite
Inflation has risen for the first time in five months, hitting 3.4% in December, as transport, alongside alcohol and tobacco, pushed prices higher
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NewsPressure on liquidity and profits to worsen in Europe in 2026
The European retail and consumer industry – which in Q4 completed a full year as the most distressed of all sectors – will face even more pressure on liquidity and profits this year