Shortages: Boris Johnson denies crisis exists as he calls supply chain ‘fantastic’ October 5, 2021 The Prime Minister today he is “not worried” about the staffing shortages which have played a role in petrol pumps running dry and risk a mass pig cull and shortages this Christmas. Boris Johnson played down the prospect that rising inflation rates could cancel out wage growth as he pins his long-term hopes on transitioning [...]
Rishi Sunak to unveil £500m extra funding for Covid jobs programmes October 3, 2021 Rishi Sunak will tomorrow commit to an extra £500m in spending to boost the government’s post-Covid jobs and skills programmes. Sunak will say in his Conservative party conference speech that he will “double down” on his promise to “do whatever it takes” to protect people’s jobs and livelihoods during the pandemic. It comes as the [...]
Boris Johnson admits UK shortages are here to stay until Christmas October 3, 2021 Boris Johnson has admitted the UK’s goods shortages will likely last until Christmas, while adding that “we need to see” a “period of adjustment” post-Brexit. The Prime Minister said today that he would not “pull the lever” of more immigration in the short-term to stop the lorry driver shortages. Petrol shortages are still being seen [...]
Just-in-time supply chains have left us dependent and with just-not-enough October 1, 2021 In the peak of the pandemic, songwriter Justin Vernon, known as the haunting voice of Bon Iver sang a searing lyric: “You at the corner store, you were stocking up before the storm.” As we watched hours of queues at petrol stations, we were reminded once again it was those who had filled up their [...]
Sunak to unveil £500m grants to ease cost of living for UK’s poorest September 30, 2021 Rishi Sunak is set to announce £500m in grants to help the country’s poorest during the current cost of living crisis the UK is facing. The chancellor is expected to announce in his Tory party conference speech next week that it will be put in place to help households cope with costs over what is [...]
Talent war and transport costs hit shop prices September 29, 2021 A toxic combination of rising transport costs, severe worker shortages and soaring commodity prices is fuelling food price inflation. Food prices rose for the first time on an annual basis in six months in September, up 0.1 per cent, according to research from the British Retail Consortium (BRC). Supermarkets have been raising pay for HGV [...]
This A.M.: Tide is turning at the Bank of England while markets await Powell remarks September 28, 2021 Having started the day in positive fashion yesterday, European markets saw the majority of the early gains slowly disappear, and though most did finish higher, it was a somewhat half-hearted affair. The result of the German election went entirely as expected, with little prospect of a new government this side of Christmas. US markets were [...]
Brits’ energy bills to swell more than £300 with poorest hit hardest – CityAM : CityAM September 26, 2021 Brits’ household bills are set to swell over the next year, with the poorest households being hit hardest by the energy crisis, according to new research. Energy bills will rise by more than £300 over the next year, highlighting the scale of the impact the crisis will have on Brits’ finances, shows research by the [...]
Exclusive: Supermarket prices likely to rise five per cent in next few weeks September 25, 2021 UK grocery shoppers will face sharp price increases in the coming months an industry expert has warned. David Sables, the chief executive of Sentinel Management Consultants, which advises suppliers in their dealings with UK supermarkets, said that retailers will raise food prices by five per cent in the next few weeks with a further rise [...]
Anxiety about soaring living costs weighs down UK consumer confidence September 24, 2021 Intense anxiety about sharp rises in the cost of living is weighing down Brits’ confidence levels, according to fresh data published today. Consumer confidence in the UK slid five points to minus 13 in September, driven by Brits sharpening their focus on the spectre of inflation and tax hikes looming over their living standards. Empty [...]