City Views | Is inflation going to fall back to Earth? October 16, 2012 NAVEEN SHARMA RBC Market conditions are very weak – business is doing poorly – and commodity prices across the world are rising. No one can be absolutely sure, but I think inflation is on its way back up. MOHAMMAD FARHAN KYNETIX Inflation is set to rise, based on rapidly rising fuel and food prices around the [...]
Rapid responses October 16, 2012 Trade to prosperity [Re: Trade and tech are the solution to the world’s food crisis, yesterday] Nick Schulz is correct. It’s vital that we don’t let international development policy get captured by groups with no interest in the development of poor, rural economies. This is why it’s so worrying that the government emphasises its commitment [...]
Analysts expect inflation to slip due to one-off utility bill factor October 14, 2012 CONSUMER price inflation will have slipped in September, analysts said yesterday, ahead of data coming out tomorrow. “Inflation should have fallen sharply in September,” said Vicky Redwood at Capital Economics, “Given that we have reached the anniversary of sharp rises in utility prices a year ago.” Redwood predicted the rate would dive to 1.9 per [...]
Competition for scarce resources may bring the West to a standstill October 10, 2012 THERE are limits to growth. Extra economic activity in emerging economies can lead to less growth for us in the West. At least partly, global economic growth is a zero sum game. Restrictions in the supply of minerals, energy, food and water mean growth is likely to be constrained. If we are lucky, world growth [...]
Big supermarkets fight to master a changing market October 3, 2012 TESCO’S first fall in profits for almost two decades suggests a watershed moment for the supermarkets. On one side, the race for space against a backdrop of generous margins; on the other, an altogether tougher battle for bargain-conscious, internet-savvy and convenience-oriented customers as margins shrink. Yesterday’s results were a worrying suggestion that Tesco is losing [...]
Heavy discounts on clothing helps lower shoppers’ costs October 2, 2012 SHOP PRICE inflation slowed down in September, data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Nielsen showed yesterday, driven by falling prices for non-food goods. Overall, shop prices were up one per cent in September compared to the same month in 2011, whereas in August prices were up 1.1 per cent on the year before. [...]
OECD says inflation becoming faster in developed countries October 2, 2012 INFLATION edged up across the OECD group of developed economies, according to data released yesterday, with upward pressure from fuel and downward pressure from food. Inflation was two per cent in the year to August, the OECD said, up from 1.9 per cent in the year to July. This was driven by a boost in [...]
Retail failures fell last quarter but fail to improve from 2011 September 30, 2012 THE NUMBER of UK retail failures showed no sign of abating in the first nine months of the year, as retailers continued to struggle against a tough economic backdrop and weak consumer spending. Figures from accountancy firm Deloitte show that although retail administrations fell in the third quarter – from 33 last year to just [...]
Finsbury Foods reports great bake-off as sales top £200m September 24, 2012 FINSBURY Food Group, the cake and bread maker, yesterday posted a surge in full-year profits across all of its divisions after sales exceeded £200m for the first time. The Aim-listed company, which supplies retailers including Waitrose, Tesco and Thorntons, said adjusted profits before tax rose 11.6 per cent to £6.5m for the year to 30 [...]
Bank of England warns inflation could fall less rapidly than expected September 19, 2012 The Bank of England sees a worsening outlook for inflation, minutes from its September meeting showed this morning, as the members voted unanimously to keep the base rate at 0.5 per cent. The central bank said increased oil prices, which rose eight per cent on the month, and the threat of higher food and utility [...]