UK inflation rises April 17, 2012 British inflation ticked up in March, driven by higher food and clothing prices and reinforcing expectations the Bank of England will not inject more stimulus into the economy next month. The Bank of England and the government have been hoping that falling price pressures will ease the squeeze on Britons’ budgets and boost consumer spending. [...]
M&S misses sales forecast April 17, 2012 Marks & Spencer missed forecasts for underlying fourth quarter sales, with growth in food sales failing to offset a weaker outcome in general merchandise. The UK’s biggest clothing retailer, which also sells homewares and upmarket foods, said on Tuesday it would, however, meet expectations for 2011/12 profit. M&S said sales at stores open over a [...]
News from retailers and job figures will make the week ahead April 15, 2012 WHILE the first couple of days indicate a quiet start for the UK market, activity is likely to increase by the middle of the week. All eyes will be on consumer price index data tomorrow for any signs of inflation moving one way or another. Tesco reports full year numbers on Wednesday. The supermarket lost [...]
A nature lover’s ultimate paradise April 15, 2012 How’ s the snorkelling?” I ask Christina as she emerges from the turquoise waters of Playa Cabo del Horno in San Cristobal. “Quite good,” she replies with a shrug. “I saw a sea turtle and a sea lion”. Christina, a rather po-faced Dane who’s been on the Galapagos a few weeks, is clearly not easily [...]
Warm weather aided UK retail sales in March April 10, 2012 RETAIL sales continued to recover in March, after the warm weather encouraged consumers to hit the high street for seasonal merchandise, according to industry figures published today. The latest monthly survey from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) showed that total retail sales rose 3.6 per cent in March from the same month last year, and [...]
Price jump hits hopes of easy money in China April 9, 2012 CONSUMER prices in China rose more sharply than expected in March, official figures showed yesterday, raising fears that the authorities may have less room than hoped to stimulate economic growth through lower interest rates. Inflation jumped to 3.6 per cent in the year to March, up from 3.2 per cent a month earlier and representing [...]
UK service sector in boost April 4, 2012 Britain’s dominant services sector saw surprisingly strong business growth in March and struck an optimistic tone about the months ahead, providing a further sign that economic recovery is taking hold. Combined with unexpectedly solid growth in manufacturing and construction last month, the expansion in the services sector takes further pressure off the Bank of England [...]
Consumers hit as oil inflates UK food prices April 4, 2012 FOOD price inflation started rising again in March after five months of falls, according to data published today, as increased oil and fuel costs pushed up transport expenses. However, non-food prices were lower than in the same month of 2011, as weak consumer demand forced firms to cut prices to battle for attention on the [...]
Inflation fears as tax on pasties bites March 28, 2012 GEORGE Osborne’s pasty tax and other hikes in VAT will push up the cost of living even further, according to official figures out yesterday, while new data suggests higher wages could also be about to stoke inflation. The tax on hot food sold in retail outlets, along with higher duties on fuel, cigarettes and alcohol, will [...]
Budget fuels crisis on the high street March 22, 2012 SOME of the UK’s most senior retailers yesterday slammed the chancellor’s supposedly pro-business Budget, saying his failure to address a planned hike in business rates will deal a blow to Britain’s ailing high streets. George Osborne has said he will cut corporation tax faster than planned to 24 per cent this year. But retailers were left [...]