Retail sales slow as consumer confidence now lower than horsemeat scandal April 12, 2022 Retail sales slowed last month as consumer confidence has taken a hit as shoppers feel the bite of rising cost inflation. According to data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and KPMG, sales increased by 3.1 per cent in March. This was worse than a three-month average growth of 6.9 per cent. What’s more, retail [...]
Broadband startup Cuckoo calls on industry to abolish exit fees and end £1.3bn price hikes March 30, 2022 Broadband exit fees and above-inflation price rises should be scrapped as UK customers face a cost of living crisis, the CEO and founder of broadband firm Cuckoo Alex Fitzgerald has demanded.
Highest since 2015: Russian inflation goes through the roof as level accelerates to 12.5 per cent March 23, 2022 It seems another headache is coming Vladimir Putin’s way as inflation in Russia has shot up to 12.5 per cent, the country’s highest level since 2015. Annual inflation in Russia accelerated to 12.5 per cent as of March 11, its highest since late 2015 and up from 10.4 per cent a week earlier, the economy [...]
Gordon Brown joins 50 charities urging action on cost of living crisis, u-turn on ‘unthinkable’ below-inflation benefit rise March 17, 2022 Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown joined around 50 charities urging the government to urgently address the cost of living crisis, and change its mind on a below-inflation benefits rise. Pressure was growing on ministers this week not to go ahead with the rise of 3.1 per cent in the Spring statement, as inflation is set [...]
Price pinch: Most Brits financially struggling or worried as inflation rises and Ukraine war rages March 14, 2022 Almost 60 per cent of Brits either struggling financially, or concerned about money in the near future, due to Russia’s war in Ukraine and the cost of living crisis. The economic effect of the conflict has exacerbated the rise in energy and food, against the backdrop of increasing inflation, which is set to exceed the [...]
Office for National Statistics throws men’s suits out of inflation calculation basket and adds meat-free sausages March 14, 2022 The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has added meat-free sausages, sports bras and anti-bac wipes to the basket of goods its statisticians use to calculate price hikes. In its annual shake up of the basket, the ONS added 19 items to its Consumer Prices Index and threw out 15 items. Products to be added include [...]
New business growth in London at eight year high amid concern about inflation and input costs March 14, 2022 New business activity in the capital has reached an eight-year high, but optimism remains cautious with rising inflation and pressures on input costs. There has been a resurgence in trade across the London, with growth rising from 57.3 per cent in January to a three month high of 63 per cent, in February. Growth reported [...]
Four in ten Brits consider job change to counter higher cost of living and rising inflation March 11, 2022 Almost forty per cent of people polled this week have considered changing jobs to counter rising inflation and costs of living. Pressures are showing on people’s wages and mental health, with leading employment board Totaljobs urging employers to support their workers through difficult financial times. In a survey published this week, 37 per cent of [...]
Rishi Sunak urged to ‘turn wise words into action’ by FSB chair after small retailers feel ‘abandoned’ March 11, 2022 The chair of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has urged chancellor Rishi Sunak to “turn wise words into action”, after the vast majority of micro firms said they felt “abandoned” by his policies. As the cost of living crisis continues to bite for retailers and consumers alike, 2,000 independent retailers were surveyed through Not [...]
Nearly half of all Brits fear inflation may rise more than Bank of England prediction March 9, 2022 About two-fifths of people polled recently have a more pessimistic view about rising inflation than the Bank of England, it has been revealed. Despite the Bank’s prediction of a seven per cent spike in Spring, 39 per cent of respondents to a survey by HR software provider CIPHR thought it would be eight percent or [...]