Swelling food and energy costs lift US inflation October 13, 2021 A jump in food prices and energy costs drove inflation in America to a fiery clip in September, testing Fed chair Jerome Powell’s insistence that price rises are transitory. On an annual basis, US inflation hit 5.4 per cent last month, according to the Labor Department. Higher prices for food, which rose 4.6 per cent, [...]
Unemployment drops by 0.4 per cent to 4.5 per cent October 12, 2021 The number of UK workers on payrolls rose by 207,000 between August and September to a record 29.2m, returning to levels seen before the pandemic struck, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said. The unemployment rate in the UK shrank 0.4 per cent to 4.5 per cent. Though unemployment fell, the number of job vacancies [...]
Looming cost of living crisis pinches Brits’ confidence in finances October 12, 2021 The spectre of inflation is acutely impacing Brits’ confidence in the health of their finances. Nine in 10 households are worried about their finances, found research by Barclaycard. Brits across the country are facing a severe cost of living crisis caused by soaring energy prices, wider inflation and looming tax hikes, which is weighing down [...]
Oil prices continue to rise amid energy crisis October 11, 2021 Oil prices passed $84 a barrel last night as Brent Crude’s rally entered a new week. This is oil’s highest valuation on the UK-based index since March last year. The resurgence in oil prices has been boosted by a global shortage of gas and spiralling energy costs. It has resulted in oil stocks gaining 37 [...]
Kraft Heinz boss: Businesses should try to minimise food price increases for customers October 10, 2021 Businesses should try to minimise price increases for consumers, according to the boss of Kraft Heinz. Miguel Patricio – who oversees the ketchup and baked beans producer – told the BBC that the firm was hiking prices in several countries. He said consumers would be forced to get used to higher food prices. Inflation was [...]
BoE new chief economist slams employer for dropping the ball on inflation October 7, 2021 The Bank of England’s newly crowned chief economist has slammed his new employer for dropping the ball on inflation. Huw Pill, Andy Haldane’s successor, characterised the Bank’s bet on the inflation upsurge being transitory as “proving greater than expected.” “Over recent months inflation has surprised to the upside, UK activity data have disappointed somewhat, while [...]
Smart solutions to food supply chain disruptions October 7, 2021 The food, gas, and fuel supply challenges that the UK has recently faced are a perfect illustration of the risks associated with imperfect supply chain management. These challenges will continue – and potentially increase – given increased customs checks, the ongoing pan-European labour shortage in key logistics industries, and the trend towards national resilience in [...]
Britain’s economic adjustment only ends in one way October 7, 2021 The ails of the nation’s favourite sausage roll maker are a microcosm of the problems afflicting the UK economy. In a trading update yesterday, high street baker Greggs warned it is suffering from a “supply of ingredients.” A couple months back, it pulled its iconic chicken bite for similar reasons. Severe shortages plaguing the British [...]
IMF: Inflation to surge above central banking elites’ targets October 6, 2021 The International Monetary Fund (IMF) expects inflation across the world’s richest countries to surge above the central banking elites’ targets. In a pre-released chapter from its global economic outlook report, the IMF said inflation in rich countries will hit 3.6 per cent in the final months of this year. The organisation blamed elevated inflation on [...]
European markets tank on toxic mix of threats October 6, 2021 European markets tanked today, driven by a toxic mix of mounting “stagflation” fears, looming rate hikes and soaring energy costs. London was among the worst performers as investors mull whether the British economy could be barrelling toward a biting bout of “stagflation” that would squeeze businesses. The capital’s premier index plummeted 1.28 per cent to [...]