Threat of stagflation returns for first time since 1970s as UK enters early stage of drawn-out recession August 3, 2022 The UK is in the early stages of a drawn out recession that will tip millions of households into financial crisis, reveals fresh forecasts published today. An inflation surge driven by an unprecedented rise in energy bills will steer the economy into recession this quarter and keep it there until early months of next year, [...]
Bank of England to rip up history books at this week’s rate decision August 3, 2022 Soaring inflation will force the Bank of England to do something it has never done since it was made independent 25 years ago, City economists are betting. Governor Andrew Bailey and the rest of the monetary policy committee (MPC) will hike interest rates 50 basis points this Thursday. The move would also mark the sixth [...]
Six charts that show why high food prices aren’t going away August 2, 2022 Russia’s invasion of Ukraine prompted a sharp jump in the price of some food commodities and the impact looks set to be long-lasting. Price moves for some agricultural commodities have been dramatic since Russia invaded Ukraine at the end of February. The chart below shows how prices have jumped, with wheat gaining most. We believe [...]
Domino’s Pizza UK franchisee posts subdued profit amid inflationary crunch August 2, 2022 Domino’s Pizza has taken a hit to pre-tax profit in the first half of the year thanks to the heightened costs of food. The London-listed company posted profit of £50.9m for the six months to 26 June, a 16 per cent drop in profit versus the previous year. The firm said it began passing on [...]
Flat profit for Greggs as bakery chain vows not to shrink size of sausage rolls August 2, 2022 Sausage roll maker Greggs has posted flat profit after the return of pre-pandemic tax rates and heightened costs. In half-year results, the bakery chain posted pre-tax profit of £55.8m, up just slightly from the £55.5m posted in the first half of 2021. The London-listed chain said this was reflective of the re-introduction of business rates, [...]
Even as we turn inwards to shore up security, globalisation is still alive August 2, 2022 Ten years ago, it would have been hard to imagine an end to the all-conquering forces of globalisation. Our world has been on a one-way ticket to integration since the mid-20th century – and it has shown little sign of return. Yet with the dual shocks of Covid-19 and the invasion of Ukraine revealing the [...]
Letters: Jump on the treadmill July 29, 2022 [Re: Millions of Brits can no longer afford the gym as inflation eat way at budgets, yesterday] The economic crisis we face is one that will affect us for many years to come, and not just in the most obvious ways. We’ve been so focused on making sure people can afford their energy bills – [...]
Nestlé sees resilient demand from shoppers despite Kit-Kat maker boosting prices July 28, 2022 Kit-Kat maker Nestlé was the latest household name to declare that price increases for consumers had failed to offset demand, with sales surging. The London-listed firm admitted it had put up prices 6.5 per cent this year but saw profits soar in six months regardless. In half-year results, the consumer goods giant said total reported [...]
Powell invokes Volcker spirit with second successive 75 point hike July 27, 2022 The US Federal Reserve today doubled down on its efforts to chase down the biggest inflation shock in recent memory by hiking rates 75 basis points for the second time in a row. Chair Jerome Powell and the rest of the federal open market committee backed another big rise to cool America’s overheating jobs market [...]
McDonald’s hikes price of cheeseburger for first time in over 14 years July 27, 2022 McDonald’s has announced it is raising the price of its signature cheeseburger for the first time in 14 years, as cost increases continue to bite consumers and businesses. In a note to fast-food fans, the US titan said that “today’s pressures mean, like many, we’re having to make some tough choices about our prices.” It [...]