Bailey: Businesses trying not to pass costs on to consumers Economics Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey has said businesses are resisting decisions to pass higher energy costs onto consumers and instead looking to narrow margins and find other savings. Speaking at an International Monetary Fund event in Bangkok, Bailey said firms were “clearly squeezing margins as well as cost cutting” in order to deal with [...]
Trainline and Virgin Atlantic face watchdog’s ‘drip pricing’ probe Transport & Infrastructure The UK’s competition watchdog has launched an investigation into three companies over concerns that customers were not shown the total upfront price when buying train and coach tickets, holidays or driving lessons. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) will probe the activities of Trainline, Virgin Atlantic and RED Driving School as part of a wider [...]
Inflation expectations at record high in interest rates signal Economics Inflation expectations hit a record high in the second quarter of the year, which could rattle Bank of England policymakers and build the case for an interest rate hike. The Bank’s joint survey with Ipsos found that, on average, households believe inflation will rise by 3.9 per cent over the next five years. It was [...]
Zilch boss shrugs off Klarna’s stock loss after fresh funding round November 13, 2025 The boss of one of London’s most hotly-anticipated fintech listings has shrugged off the recent stock fall of Klarna after securing a fresh funding round. Philip Belamant, the chief executive of consumer payments platform Zilch, told City AM “there’s always a bit of downward pressure” when asked whether Klarna’s recent stock tumble raised any concerns [...]
Pressure on Bank of England and Reeves as inflation spikes July 16, 2025 The UK economy is at risk of ‘stagflation’ after official data revealed that inflation edged up to 3.6 per cent in June, putting further interest rate cuts by the Bank of England at risk. In the latest set of price growth data before the next monetary policy decision in August, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported that [...]
Retailers reassess how to reel in cash-strapped Brits for Black Friday November 16, 2024 As Brits’ loyalty to brands continues to erode and their commitment to seeking value continues to rise, retailers are optimising their digital presence in hopes of a bumper festive season. With online spending reaching ever-higher levels, and brand loyalty going down thanks to the increasing ease of switching between products on the internet, it’s become [...]