Food inflation fell to a 12-month low in March giving a much-needed boost to hard-pressed consumers. more»

Almost a quarter of a million business owners in England are set for their business rates to increase ahead of the UK inflation rate, new figures have shown. more»

High street business owners ended 2017 with the steepest decline in sales for five years, as retail experts warn consumer spending power has been absorbed by essential items. more»

After a year of high profile instances of online crime, new survey findings have found the threat of cyber attacks to be among the greatest business fears for the year ahead. more»

The inflation measure used to calculate how much UK business rates rise each year will switch to the consumer price index (CPI) in 2018, the chancellor has announced. more»

A "perfect storm" of rising inflation, currency volatility and Brexit question marks has created an uncertain environment for the UK's small exporters in 2017. Now, 70 per cent are expecting to trade less with global markets in the year's final quarter. more»

A collective of organisations representing Britain's small high street firms have written to the chancellor calling for direct support in the upcoming Budget ahead of a projected 270m business rates increase for retailers in 2018. more»

Small business organisations have demanded strong action from the government to shield owners from any damaging effects caused by rapidly increasing inflation. more»

Fuelling claims that the tax system is criminalising struggling owners unnecessarily, business rates advisory firm CVS discovered that one in eight owners received a summons to appear in front of a magistrate court last tax year. more»

Independent retailers could face a 280m business rates hike in April 2018 after the UK's inflation rate continued to rise in August, and experts have urged government to rethink its calculations or face a wave of high street closures. more»