Distribution giant Bunzl reports slip in profits despite boost in revenues February 28, 2022 Distribution giant Bunzl reported a slip in profits today despite revenues rising 1.7 per cent, as its food and retail divisions rebounded from a pandemic slow down.
‘Perfect storm’ of headwinds crimps UK optimism February 25, 2022 A “perfect storm” of headwinds gripping households with the tightest financial squeeze in a generation is eroding Brits’ optimism, reveals a closely watched survey published today. Concern about the impact soaring inflation will have on household finances drove UK consumer confidence to its lowest level in over a year, plummeting to minus 26 points this [...]
We must end our dependency on Russia’s gas and embrace renewable opportunities February 18, 2022 Our energy bills are up by 54 per cent this year. It’s not just gas – the cost of fuel, food, and furniture is ticking up too. The Bank of England now expects inflation to surge past 7 per cent by the end of this year. That’s going to price many of us out of [...]
Coffee sales drive Nestlé growth while plant-based food momentum swells February 17, 2022 Sales of coffee products have driven Nestlé’s organic growth while total reported sales hit a sum worth £69.46bn. In full-year results for 2021, the world’s largest food and beverage company said total reported sales increased 3.3 per cent to 87.1bn in Swiss currency. Organic growth stood at 7.5 per cent, driven by strong momentum for [...]
Andrew Bailey fell asleep on inflation and now it is workers who will face the flames February 17, 2022 Is there a comfortable chaise longue in the office of Andrew Bailey, Governor of the Bank of England? I think we should be told. Because it has become apparent that the Bank has been asleep on the job. In the year to December 2021, consumer prices rose by 5.4 per cent. We have to go [...]
Inflation nears 30-year high as consumer price index climbs to 5.5 per cent February 16, 2022 UK inflation has remained at a near 30-year high after rising further in January as Britain remains in the grip of a tightening cost-of-living squeeze, according to official figures. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation reached 5.5 per cent in January, up from 5.4 per cent in December and [...]
UK inflation to scale even higher as cost of living squeeze tightens February 14, 2022 Inflation will soar even further above a near three decade high this week as the squeeze on households tightens its grip, City experts are betting. Fresh figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on Wednesday will reveal the the cost of living is running at 5.5 per cent, according to the consensus forecast [...]
Stateside inflation climbs to four decade high dialling up pressure on US Fed to go further and faster February 10, 2022 Stateside inflation is running at its hottest rate since the early 1980s, piling even more pressure on the US Federal Reserve to launch a stauncher and faster rate hike cycle. Prices in the US are 7.5 per cent higher than they were a year ago in January, according to fresh figures published today by the [...]
Perfect storm of rising costs to hit retail return February 8, 2022 Total retail sales jumped 7.5 per cent during January compared to the same month in 2020. However, retail bosses have warned consumers and firms face a challenging few months ahead with a perfect storm of rising costs. Shoppers were less eager to buy non-food items in stores over the three months to January, compared to [...]
M&S remains UK’s fastest growing supermarket catching up with Big Four grocers February 8, 2022 Marks & Spencer has maintained its position as UK’s fastest growing food retailer, market researcher NielsenIQ said today, indicating its turnaround plan is gaining momentum. It said M&S’s sales rose 12.3 per cent in the 12 weeks to January 29 year-on-year, giving it a market share of 3.6 per cent, up 0.4 percentage points on [...]