Don’t blame shops for prices if leaders can’t stop inflation August 5, 2022 Inflation is soaring and the UK’s food and drink manufacturers are under incredible pressure. No one can remember such sustained, relentless price rises across all our inputs – everything, from energy and ingredients to transport and wages, is more expensive. With food price inflation now at 9.8 per cent, everyone is asking: how much further [...]
Sofa seller ScS cautions cost-of-living pressures have slowed orders down August 4, 2022 ScS has warned that cost-of-living pressures have already driven down orders although the sofa business still lifted its profit expectations for the rest of the year. The furniture retailer reported a 3.9 per cent increase in orders in the year to 30 July, compared with the previous year. The company said a stronger than expected [...]
UK inflation to surge above 15 per cent, more than seven times Bank of England target August 4, 2022 The Bank of England faces the grim prospect of overseeing the largest inflation surge in recent memory, with prices rising more than seven times faster than its target, a top think tank warned today. A sustained surge in energy costs triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and a sudden burst in demand after the Covid-19 [...]
Sheepish consumers deal blow to UK services economy August 3, 2022 Consumers cutting spending in response to a historic inflation surge has weighed on growth in the UK’s services economy, reveals a closely watched survey published today. Brits are being squeezed by soaring living costs eroding their incomes, prompting them to cut unnecessary spending to protect their finances. As a result, growth in the services industry [...]
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 [...]