Retail sales growth slowed in August amid recovery warnings September 7, 2021 Retail sales growth has started to slow as shoppers’ pent-up enthusiasm has softened this summer. Total sales increased by 3 per cent in August, below the three month average growth of 6.9 per cent. Clothing retailers reported strong performances as Brits looked to stock up their post-lockdown wardrobes with outfits for weddings and returning to [...]
Road haulage bosses warn buckling supply chains will trigger soaring prices September 4, 2021 The “perfect storm” of problems scuppering UK supply chains will increase prices sharply for households across the country, road haulage and food bosses have warned. A paucity of HGV drivers, soaring shipping costs, delays in deliveries from Asia and ongoing Covid related problems have compounded to produce severe shortages of products. Soaring demand as economies [...]
How worker shortages are cleared will determine UK economy’s trajectory September 4, 2021 You would be forgiven for forgetting we are currently amid one of the best runs of economic growth in living memory with all the negative news about supply chain snarl ups, worker shortages and soaring inflation flying around. A slew of data published this week, alongside a raft of announcements from supermarket, retail and food [...]
Even entertaining a nappy tax exposes No10’s muddled plans for plastic waste and climate change September 1, 2021 When I saw the front page of the Daily Mail over breakfast this morning, I nearly choked on my Shreddies. It’s possible George Eustice did, too, given his department rapidly denied today’s headlines that government is contemplating a levy on disposable nappies. Perhaps someone in Whitehall got the wrong end of the stick. Considering Ministers’ contempt for [...]
Supply chain bottlenecks push shop prices higher September 1, 2021 Severe supply chain bottlenecks and persistent shortages of microchips drove shop prices higher over the last month, according to fresh figures published today. The British Retail Consortium’s latest shop price index shows shop prices climbed 0.4 per cent in August, up from a 0.5 per cent fall in prices in July. Logistics firms have struggled [...]
Even entertaining a nappy tax exposes No10’s muddled plans for plastic waste and climate change – CityAM : CityAM September 1, 2021 When I saw the front page of the Daily Mail over breakfast this morning, I nearly choked on my Shreddies. It’s possible George Eustice did, too, given his department rapidly denied today’s headlines that government is contemplating a levy on disposable nappies. Perhaps someone in Whitehall got the wrong end of the stick. Considering Ministers’ contempt for [...]
Eurozone inflation soars to decade high August 31, 2021 Eurozone inflation soared to its highest level in a decade this month to breach the European Central Bank’s target, according to official figures published today. Data released by Eurostat, Europe’s statistical agency, shows prices rose three per cent this month in the 19 countries that make up the Euro area, ticking up from 2.2 per [...]
Beer delivery strike suspended after fresh pay offer August 23, 2021 A nationwide strike by beer draymen has been suspended after an improved pay offer from GXO Logistics Drinks. Draymen – based at 26 sites across the country – will now vote on a pay offer instead of taking industrial action on Tuesday August 24 and Thursday September 2. Unite union has recommended the employees accept [...]
Workers of the world unite! How the post-pandemic recovery is increasing the bargaining power of labour August 23, 2021 More than 114 million people lost their jobs over 2020, according to the International Labor Organization. Even more saw their working hours and wages cut. The worst affected industries were accommodation and food services where global employment declined by over 20%, followed by retail. These sectors were particularly hard hit by lockdowns, forced closures and plummeting tourism. Women and younger workers were badly affected. You could be [...]
‘Pingdemic’ suffocates pubs and restaurants as growth slows for first time since March August 19, 2021 Worker shortages triggered by the “pingdemic” are hitting pubs, bars and restaurants’ trading, according to fresh figures released today. According to Lloyds Bank’s UK recovery tracker, output at food and drink businesses dropped in July as a result these firms struggling to scale supply amid staff shortages and high rates of self-isolation. Output at food [...]