Every time the government starts talking about Brexit plans, the Pound takes a beating on international markets as investors and speculators try to price in the cost of a hard Brexit on the UK economy. Prime Minister May is expected to announce plans for the future of the UK on the 17th of January, many think the plans will detail a hard Brexit. As the Pound falls, the worry will be its effect on UK consumers, who may find themselves squeezed due to rising prices, which could lead to a challenging year for UK retail. You can read more here.