As Britain bids to restore national financial self-confidence and goes for economic growth, few industries contribute on the scale of retail.

As Britain bids to restore national financial self-confidence and goes for economic growth, few industries contribute on the scale of retail.

Retailers already account for 10% of employment in this country and, despite some high-profile collapses such as JJB this week, many continue to grow.

But retail success is constrained by cost burdens, notably business rates. Next month we’ll discover the potential increase for 2013 when the September Retail Prices Index (RPI) inflation rate is revealed.

But the fact is there should be no rise at all. For the past two years retailers, who shoulder 28% of the entire business rates bill, have borne an extraordinarily heavy burden as a result of the artificial mechanism by which rates are calculated, using a single month’s RPI with all the consequent distortion.

It’s time for some fairness and respite from a regime that penalises retailers and undermines their success. That’s why Retail Week has teamed up with the BRC to campaign for a freeze in business rates next year and a switch from the Retail Prices Index to the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) as the basis of calculation.

Some might ask why, in a time of austerity, retailers should not stump up. But we’re not asking for an industry hand-out, rather for additional costs – likely on present expectations to be about £200m – not to be imposed.

That money could otherwise be used for business investment to create growth, helping reinvigorate hard-pressed high streets and create wealth and employment – particularly for young people.

Because rates are calculated using September figures, retailers only have a few months to plan before the additional expense must be borne. It’s a headache at the best of times but, in harsh trading conditions, it’s a damaging smack in the face for a key industry.

That’s why the CPI, over a 12-month period, would be a preferable measure when rates are being reassessed.

It tends to move in a narrower range than RPI and would enable businesses to plan further ahead.

In the run-up to the Chancellor’s autumn statement towards the end of the year, the BRC will be doing all it can to make the case for a fresh approach.

Retail Week will join the fight by mobilising support for change as widely as possible and articulating the reasons why a new system is essential. We hope you will back the campaign and help create the conditions for the continued success of a great British industry.

Fair Rates for Retail

Join the Retail Week and BRC campaign to reform the outmoded business rate system

Fair Rates for Retail: Retail leaders lend their support