Huel: No rush for IPO as meal replacement drinks biz passes £100m revenue March 30, 2022 The CEO of start-up Huel has said its £1.50 meal replacement drinks offer struggling households affordable nutrition as inflation skyrockets. “We feel we can support [people in the cost of living crunch,] given our products start at £1.50 a meal,” CEO James McMaster told CityA.M. Households are facing sharp grocery bill increases this spring, as [...]
Shop price inflation hits highest rate in more than decade amid cost of living crunch March 30, 2022 Shop price annual inflation has hit the highest rate since September 2011 as Brits face a cost of living crunch. According to data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and NielsenIQ, the metric hit 2.1 per cent in March. This was an increase from 1.8 per cent in February. Shoppers have flocked to discount retailers [...]
Asda launches new and larger value range and kills off Smart Price in race to kickstart stalling growth March 29, 2022 Supermarket giant Asda, which was bought by the Issa brothers and backers TDR Capital last year, said this afternoon it will axe its Smart Price range and replace it with new Just Essentials by Asda products. In fact, Asda is launching a new and larger value range, amid the cost of living crisis, as the [...]
As supermarkets keep costs low, farming bears the brunt of inflation in the middle March 28, 2022 The British farming industry is facing a tumultuous future. The impact of high inflation coupled with the reverberations of the war in Ukraine has left farmers high and dry without access to crucial products. What insiders have termed an “unprecedented crisis” could cause radical change in the British farming sector – an opportunity for some, [...]
Sir Iain Duncan Smith: ‘Sub-crisis’ emerging as loan sharks capitalise on rising cost of living March 28, 2022 With more than 1m Brits in debt to predatory illegal lenders, a “sub-crisis” may emerge as soaring costs of living heap added pressure on those with fragile finances. Former Conservative leader and ex minister at the Department for Work and Pensions, Sir Iain Duncan Smith has been campaigning. But not for an election. The veteran [...]
‘Wall of worry’ knocks UK consumer confidence March 25, 2022 “A wall of worry” made up of a 30-year high inflation rate, the Russia-Ukraine war and looming tax hikes is plaguing UK households, reveals a closely watched survey released today. Brits’ optimism dropped five points to minus 31 this month marking the fourth month in a row consumer confidence has fallen, according to research firm [...]
Potatoes are off the table with higher gas bills March 24, 2022 Yesterday, after the Chancellor unveiled his spending review, food banks pushed back as grim figures from the Office for Budget Responsibility warned of the biggest fall in household’s disposable incomes since records began. Richard Walker, the Managing Director of Iceland, gave a stark warning. He told the BBC that some food bank users were declining [...]
Rishi Sunak’s Spring statement today: From fuel duty cuts to tax and energy bills March 23, 2022 The time has come for the Chancellor to unveil his spring statement, with the spotlight on how he intends to deal with the cost of living crisis. Rishi Sunak is set to vow to “stand by” British families as he is expected to outline further plans to support households facing financial hardship on Wednesday, which [...]
Will the world economy avoid an inflationary bust? March 23, 2022 Today’s high inflation is being compared to the 1970s. However, robust consumer spending, fuelled by pandemic savings, makes for a different set of circumstances. Memories of the 1970s were evoked as the price of Brent crude oil temporarily climbed above $139 a barrel in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. That was a period [...]
What’s behind market volatility in China? March 23, 2022 It’s been a rollercoaster week for Chinese stock markets. We explain why and get the views of Schroders’ experts Robin Parbrook, Maggie Zheng and David Rees. In the last week, equity markets in mainland China and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region have experienced a rout, and a subsequent rally in the past two days. At [...]