ACS begs Chancellor to lower business rates

The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has written to the Chancellor, George Osborne, calling for the planned business rates increase of 5.6 per cent to be lowered to 2 per cent, which is in line with government targets for inflation.

The group, which has 33,500 members, has argued that the move could save the convenience sector more than £20m, as well as creating extra savings for the wider retail industry.