Retailers in UK plan to cut staff hours and jobs amid rising employment costs
UK retailers are planning to cut staff hours and jobs amid rising employment costs and pessimism about the economy.More than half (52%) of finance bosses at retail companies said they planned to reduce working hours or cut overtime, according to the latest survey from the British Retail Consortium (BRC), the trade body that represents most big retailers.Almost half (48%) said they would cut head office jobs and 32% said they would reduce jobs in stores.The potential job cuts are likely to add to pressure for political action on work for young people who are particularly affected by the lower availability of entry-level jobs in retail and hospitality.The retail sector has shed 74,000 jobs in the past year partly owing to new technology, from AI marketing and stock management tools to automated tills.
Retailers said they planned to implement more technology and other productivity tactics to reduce labour requirements after employment costs rose by £5bn in 2025, according to the BRC, as a result of increases in employer national insurance contributions and a higher legal minimum wage,Retail stores are also under pressure from cut price online competitors such as Shein, Vinted and Temu, as well as lacklustre demand, with households managing higher energy and food bills and trying to save more amid employment concerns and an uncertain geopolitical environment,The BRC survey found 69% of retail finance bosses were “pessimistic” or “very pessimistic” about the outlook, up from 56% in July last year,Only 14% were “optimistic” – although that was up from 11% in July,Helen Dickinson, the chief executive of the BRC, said: “We all want more high-quality, well-paid jobs.
But retail has already lost 250,000 roles in the past five years and youth unemployment is climbing fast.”She said that 84% of finance bosses ranked labour costs among their top three concerns: a huge rise from 21% in July.“The economy is expected to remain fragile, with weak wage growth, unemployment rising and low consumer confidence, all pointing towards falling demand.At the same time, businesses face sharply higher costs, from rising input prices and wage bills to new burdens created by government policy.”Dickinson said the finer details of the employment rights bill, which will gradually introduce new protections for workers from April over the next few years, “will make or break job opportunities”.
“Done well, the reforms can raise standards while supporting flexible and entry-level roles that are vital for people whose lives don’t fit a fixed nine to five pattern.If the government fails to consider business needs on policies including guaranteed hours and union rights, they will add complexity and reduce flexibility, ultimately stripping away entry-level and part-time opportunities at precisely the moment the country needs them most.” This article was amended on 19 February 2026.Owing to errors in supplied information, a previous version cited results from a survey on what retailers did in the previous six months, rather than what they plan to do in the next six months.These figures have been corrected.
British manufacturing continues to face low orders and upward price pressure, says CBI
British manufacturing orders remain well below average and price pressure continues to persist, according to a closely watched survey.The CBI industrial trends survey found that manufacturers’ orders for the month were below average in February, while most firms expected to raise their prices and for output to decline over the next three months.The survey compiled by the Confederation of British Industry adds to a mixed picture for the UK economy since the start of the year. Households are feeling “dismal” about their finances, while companies have been cutting staff amid rising cost pressures. However, some business surveys have suggested a rise in optimism among companies since the start of the year after uncertainty over the government’s autumn budget lifted
Oil prices rise amid fears of US strikes on Iran – as it happened
Oil prices are on the rise as traders react to growing concerns that the US could launch military action against Iran.Both the US and Iran embark on military posturing despite trying to de-escalate a standoff over Tehran’s nuclear programme.Brent crude is up 1.55% at $71.44 a barrelWTI is up 1
Digital blackface flourishes under Trump and AI: ‘The state is bending reality’
Late last year, as a US government shutdown cut off the Snap benefits that low-income families rely on for groceries, videos on social media cast the fallout in frantic scenes. “Imma keep it real with you,” a Black woman said in a viral TikTok post, “I get over $2,500 a month in stamps. I sell ’em, $2,000 worth, for about $1,200-$1,500 cash.” Another Black woman ranted about taxpayers’ responsibility to her seven children with seven men, and yet another melted down after her food stamps were rejected at a corn-dog counter.Visible watermarks stamped some videos as AI-generated – apparently, too faintly for the racist commentators and hustlers more than happy to believe the frenzy was real
The rise of AI is making the future of work look bleak – but it could be an opportunity
In 2026, it’s a scary time to work for a living.Gone are the days of quiet quitting, the Great Resignation, and the highly visible union-organizing battles that began the decade and signaled that perhaps worker power was on the rise again in the US. Instead, much of that momentum is being crowded out of our minds by anxieties: a worsening affordability crisis, geopolitical instability, and the specter of artificial intelligence looming over the workplace.For the tech CEOs leading the AI race and enriching themselves as they jostle for dominance, AI isn’t a phantasm at all, but a glimmering unicorn. When they predict AI is just months away from being able to do everything a software engineer does, or that it will one day take over CEOs’ jobs, their excitement for the future is palpable
Winter Olympics 2026: speed skating, curling, ice hockey and more – live
Huge stone for USA, here it comes … and it’s another goodun. They’ve been so clutch today and going into the final end, they lead Switzerland 6-3.A two-point end for GB, who lead Italy 7-3 with just one end to go; they’ve almost done their part. But the intrigue now is with the Switzerland v USA game, and when USA sneak a stone through the remove two of the Swiss ones, they go a long way towards securing their semi-final spot and 5-3 playing the ninth.Back with the women’s hockey, it’s still Sweden 1-1 Switzerland as we near the end of the third; the Swedes take a timeout
Townsend calls for Kinghorn and Van der Merwe to show ‘huge determination’ against Wales
Gregor Townsend expects Blair Kinghorn and Duhan van der Merwe to be fuelled by “huge determination” against Wales after they were restored to Scotland’s starting XV for Saturday’s Six Nations meeting in Cardiff.The British & Irish Lions duo were high-profile omissions from the 23 for the first two championship matches against Italy and England amid question marks about their form. The Toulouse back Kinghorn will start at full-back in place of Tom Jordan, who drops to the bench, while Van der Merwe, Scotland’s record try-scorer, returns at wing to take over from Jamie Dobie, who is out due to injury.“Blair was back playing on Sunday night for Toulouse so it’s good to get an outlet when you’ve not been selected,” said the head coach after naming his squad to face Wales. “He played really well in that game and he’s recovered quickly
Winter Olympics briefing: Shiffrin’s sublime showing delivers release of emotion
Power points: scrum battle could be crucial in England v Ireland clash
Winter Olympics 2026: USA defeat Sweden in men’s ice hockey and glory for Shiffrin on day 12 – as it happened
When curlers need snookers: Team GB fight on at Winter Olympics after day of drama
Mikaela Shiffrin overcame grief, crashes and her own self-doubt to win slalom gold again
‘Princess Anne thought I was Joe Marler’: Heyes mixed up in case of mistaken identity