British Retail Consortium releases Christmas trading statement

Responding to the latest CPI inflation figures which shows headline inflation at 10.7%, and food inflation at 16.4%, Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of the British Retail Consortium, said: “It will undoubtedly be a challenging Christmas period for many households throughout the UK. 

"Not only are the costs of food and gifts up on last year, but bills are up 27% too. Unfortunately, the war in Ukraine continues to put pressure on energy and food prices, meaning there's little sign inflation will ease significantly soon.

“To combat inflation, retailers are investing hundreds of millions into lower prices for the future, as well as finding ways to keep the cost of Christmas down for their customers. This includes freezing the price of many essentials, offering discounts to vulnerable groups, raising pay for their own staff, and expanding their value ranges.”