Dove owner Unilever hikes prices as energy costs surge Retail Dove owner Unilever hiked its prices over the summer as it looked to offset rising energy costs caused by the Iran war. The FTSE 100 consumer goods group told shareholders on Wednesday its prices rose by 2.3 per cent in its third quarter, as its volume growth slowed from 5.5 to 2.9 per cent. The [...]
Healey scraps ‘unfair’ standing charges from gas bills Energy John Healey has said he will scrap “outdated and unfair” standing charges from gas bills, in a move which could save households £45 per year. The Chancellor said these fees – which are charged on top of the daily rate to cover the cost of connecting to a supply – are part of “an energy [...]
UK government approves Jackdaw production in North Sea boost Energy A major gas field in the North Sea has been re-approved by the government following years of legal rows with environment campaigners. The Jackdaw site, a large offshore natural gas field 150 miles east of Aberdeen, has received the official stamp of approval from the government and is expected to supply gas to the UK [...]
Retailers demand energy bill cuts as costs rise by £440m October 8, 2026 Retailers have urged John Healey to slash green policy costs from energy bills, warning that their electricity costs are set to soar by £440m this year. The British Retail Consortium (BRC) – which represents top retailers including Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Marks & Spencer – has warned that rising “policy costs” on energy bills will inevitably [...]
Burnham to announce new publicly-owned grid operator September 29, 2026 Andy Burnham is expected to announce a new publicly-owned body which will invest in the UK’s electricity grid in an attempt to bring down Britain’s sky-high energy costs. The Prime Minister is tipped to unveil Great British Grid, which will speed up connections to the grid by driving up competition for projects, during his Labour [...]
Consumer confidence hits two-year high but ‘could soon falter’ September 25, 2026 Consumer confidence has surged to a two-year high in a surprise rise which will hand a much-needed boost to Andy Burnham ahead of the Budget – but experts have warned that momentum could soon run out. GfK’s closely-watched consumer confidence barometer rose to -13 in September, a rise of about one point since last month [...]
Healey urged to cut business costs as consumer confidence slips September 24, 2026 Retailers have called on John Healey to slash the “burdensome” costs of doing business at the Budget next month, warning that consumer confidence will continue to stumble without urgent action. The British Retail Consortium (BRC), which represents top retailers like Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Marks and Spencer, has urged the Chancellor to tackle the “triple blow” [...]
Food inflation set to surge next year as Iran war ramps up supply costs September 9, 2026 Food inflation could top six per cent next year as rising fuel prices triggered by the war in Iran ramp up supply chain costs, a top food industry body has warned. The Food and Drink Federation (FDF), which represents the UK’s food manufacturers, has urged the government to help the industry keep its costs down, [...]
Budget tax hikes would be ‘road to ruin,’ Healey warned September 6, 2026 A top business trade body has warned Chancellor John Healey that tax hikes at the October Budget would set the UK on the “road to ruin”. The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has urged the Chancellor not to “pile more taxes on firms,” saying that the Treasury should instead cut the costs facing firms to [...]
Manufacturing growth loses momentum as economic risks loom September 1, 2026 The manufacturing sector suffered a slowdown in growth over August as smaller firms struggled to clinch new orders. S&P Global researchers suggested growth in the manufacturing sector eased in August as the purchasing managers’ index (PMI) reading dropped from 51.9 in July to 51.7. The reading remains above the neutral 50 mark, indicating that activity [...]