It is expensive to rationalise SKU (products) in any retailer; the markdown has to be factored in at the margin, traders don't like it as they have to take a hit. Asda committed the usual cardinal sin when faced with falling sales, alongside an avalanche of retail media, they added more range for various reasons. No doubt back margin was part of it, plus traders trying to grow sales in a retailer that's struggling is never an easy task. Which means short cuts can become very palatable. I am...

It's a definite step change in the market with volumes falling, customers making more shopping trips and inflation touching 5%. Customers react to this, and the sentiment has been weak for some time. The recent NI changes have not been swallowed by the sector (my shock!) but instead are being passed on to customers. For people heavy sectors like hospitality, retail and food production, any cost increase is bad news but the NI changes feel like a spectacular own goal that is only going to hurt...

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