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Independent retailers face Fresh challenges as UK inflation climbs to 3.8%

20 Aug 2025

ACT parent company Bira has expressed serious concern following today's announcement that UK inflation rose to 3.8% in July, higher than the expected 3.7% and marking the tenth consecutive month... Read more…

Bike industry continues to face challenges as profits and forecasts falter at Giant, Canyon and Shim

14 Aug 2025

The global bike industry remains under pressure as Shimano, Giant and Canyon all report weaker profits and subdued outlooks for 2025.
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ACT to join industry leaders at brand new cycling trade event this September

13 Aug 2025

The ACT is set to be in attendance at the inaugural Cycling Industry News Live (CIN Live) trade show, which is set to bring together industry-wide education, market insight and product showcases... Read more…

Independent retail crisis deepens as nearly half see sales plummet compared to last year

12 Aug 2025

Britain's high street crisis has deepened dramatically with nearly half of independent retailers, including many in the independent cycling retail sector, reporting sales have crashed compared... Read more…

Independent retailers slam £5.9bn "de minimis" import loophole as Government delays action

11 Aug 2025

ACT parent company Bira has condemned the Government's inaction over the "de minimis" import loophole following a Sky News investigation revealing £5.9 billion worth of cheap imports... Read more…

Criminals undermining legitimate retailers as trading standards collapse

7 Aug 2025

Bira has warned that criminals are undermining legitimate retailers as trading standards services collapse, following a new Which? investigation.
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ACT welcomes Government's new product safety laws

23 Jul 2025

A leading cycle traders association has backed the government's move to protect consumers from dangerous products sold through online marketplaces, following Royal Assent of the Product... Read more…

Small Business Strategy Inquiry 2025 - ACT and Bira call for members to share their voice

20 Jun 2025

The House of Commons Business and Trade Committee has asked the ACT, and its parent company Bira, to help them reach out to small business retailers across the country, for their quick input on... Read more…

Beyond the discount: Restoring integrity to the cycle supply chain

18 Jun 2025

The Association of Cycle Traders believes the time has come for greater accountability throughout our supply chain, writes ACT Director Jonathan Harrison in an article published for BikeBiz.
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Bira welcomes Wales' business rates proposals but calls for key improvements

11 Jun 2025

Bira has welcomed the Welsh Government's consultation on business rate reforms for retail shops, whilst calling for significant improvements to ensure the proposals truly support high street... Read more…

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Bira responds cautiously to encouraging trends in KPMG Retail Sales Monitor report.

Posted on in Business News

The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) has responded to the BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor for August 2024. The report, which can be downloaded here, has highlighted:

shopping street

  • UK Total retail sales increased by 1.0% year on year in August, against a growth of 4.1% in August 2023. This was above the 3-month average growth of 0.4% and below the 12-month average growth of 1.2%.
     
  • Food sales increased 2.9% year on year over the three months to August, against a growth of 8.2% in August 2023. This is below the 12-month average growth of 5.0%. For the month of Aug, Food was in growth year-on-year.
     
  • Non-Food sales decreased 1.7% year on year over the three-months to August, against a decline of 0.2% in August 2023. This is above the 12-month average decline of 2.0%. For the month of August, Non-Food was in decline year-on-year.
     
  • In-store Non-Food sales over the three months to August decreased 2.8% year on year, against a growth of 1.3% in August 2023. This is below the 12-month average decline of 2.1%.
     
  • Online Non-Food sales increased by 1.5% year on year in August, against an average decline of 1.7% in August 2023. This was above the 3-month average increase of 0.3% and above the 12-month average decline of 1.8%.
     
  • The online penetration rate (the proportion of Non-Food items bought online) increased to 34.7% in August from 34.1% in August 2023. This was below the 12-month average of 36.3%.

Bira CEO Andrew Goodacre said: ""Encouraging sales trends in August across all categories give us hope that this is a sign of things to come. No doubt a spell of good weather helped, but it could also be that consumer confidence is slowly returning.

"However, we must remember that higher sales do not always mean higher profits, as we know that many retailers are discounting heavily to move stock. Retailers are sacrificing margins, and that cannot continue in the long term. The high street remains a challenging place to do business, and we urge the Chancellor to retain the retail discount at 75% to give hard-pressed retailers more confidence to invest in growing their part of the economy."

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