UK Retail sales down -1.1 in October

[blackcatbooksuk]

I think anyone in retail could see that drop in retail sales coming. I suspect November won't be any better. 

With that in mind, do you think once this "Never ending" wait for the budget is over that sales will pick up? Or are we just fooling ourselves with that hope and sales will stay bad through the whole Christmas period?

[leadhills_scot]

Just read that pensioners who only receive the state pension and have no other income will not have to pay tax before 2030.

I have been buying more than normal for myself on ebay. Also just finished Xmas shopping but I don't look on ebay for pressies as it's to much faff removing private and overseas sellers every time I search.

[tribalgiftsuk]

The thing is as well yes minimum wage is going up again in April (whilst is sounds good)  that means that all businesses with employed staff will all have to increase their prices again, therefore prices/inflation will have to  rise by around or at least 5% to cover that staffing cost increase.  I doubt many businesses will be happy to take that hit in staffing costs. Therefore no one will actually be any better off come April because the prices of everything will have to increase to cover the increased wage spend.

So if this continues we will just be in a never ending inflation loop every year. All of us paying more tax and more on bills, food etc. Prospect for 2026 is not looking great with that budget just announced.