Methodology
Understanding what drives retailer choice
First launched in 2010, the OC&C Retail Proposition Index (RPI) is one of the most comprehensive studies of consumer perceptions in retail, examining what drives shoppers to choose one retailer over another.
The research evaluates retailers across the key elements of their customer proposition, including product quality, value for money, price, choice, convenience, service, trust and loyalty. By analysing consumer ratings across these dimensions, the RPI identifies the retailers delivering the strongest propositions and the factors influencing customer preference.
More than 39,000 consumers globally are asked to rate the retailers they have shopped with on the strength of their overall proposition, and then to score the key elements of that proposition (Price, Range, Service, etc).
These results are then used to compile a ranking of over 550 retailers from across the globe.
Since the Retail Proposition Index was first launched in 2010, we have analysed over 76.3m ratings. Now in its 16th year, the index is a powerful tool to understand how shopper opinions and priorities have changed over time, and to identify the key long-run trends driving shifts in the retail landscape.
812M
Ratings analysed since RPI launch in 2010
43672
Consumers surveyed globally
612
Retailers ranked globally
8
Countries included in 2026 survey
Barclays' scale unlocks insights based on
17M
customers, making
4BN
yearly transactions.
Across its card issuing and payments processing business, Barclays sees nearly
40%
of the nation's credit and debit card transactions, providing a unique view of UK consumer spending
This year's UK report leverages proprietary Barclays Spend Insights and Consumer Confidence data, providing a complementary view of how changing attitudes are translating into purchasing behaviour.
Together, these perspectives allow us to examine not only what consumers say matters to them, but also where they are directing their spending, how behaviour differs across generations and which retail propositions are gaining ground.
The result is a detailed picture of the changing UK retail landscape, identifying the opportunities and strategic choices facing retailers and investors.