
The boss of retailer WH Smith has said the group will face a £7 million cost impact from the Budget’s move to hike national insurance contributions, but said it will be “manageable” without having to increase prices.
Carl Cowling, chief executive of WH Smith, told the PA news agency that next year’s extra cost would come on top of a £13 million increase in its wage bill due to the planned rise in the minimum wage also announced in the Budget.