British businesses most optimistic in over a year but London firms sweat over inflation June 30, 2023 British business optimism has climbed to its highest level in over a year despite consumers retreating in response to rising prices and the Bank of England’s aggressive interest rate rises, a survey out today reveals. UK business confidence climbed nine points to 37 per cent in June, taking it up to its highest level since [...]
Bank of England chief economist Huw Pill admits forecasts have struggled to explain inflation shock June 29, 2023 Any central banker would have struggled to accurately forecast the impact of the series of shocks that have hit the UK economy, the Bank of England’s chief economist claimed today. Huw Pill, a former Goldman Sachs banker, in response to a letter from the Treasury select committee today hit back at critics who have slammed [...]
Hunt unveils measures to ensure customers get fair pricing June 28, 2023 Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has drafted an action plan with authorities to ensure customers are being facing fair prices during the cost of living crisis. Hunt sat down with the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), and the regulators for the energy, water and communications sectors, early on Wednesday 28 June at 11 Downing Street. He was [...]
Budget Britain: Inflation forces families to trade down and opt for staycations June 28, 2023 Britons are trading down to cheaper products and are opting to holiday at home in response to rampant inflation and higher interest rates squeezing their budgets, new research out today shows. Some 40 per cent of families have been buying more value or own brand products in 2023, according to analysis from consultancy KPMG. The [...]
Teasing supermarket execs won’t stop inflation, it’s suppliers we need to grill June 28, 2023 Supermarket bosses are an easy shot, but its suppliers making profits which would dwarf those of Tesco or Sainsbury's.
Supermarkets behaving badly: Asda and Morrisons bosses back ‘transparent’ fuel pricing model June 27, 2023 Supermarkets bosses have been grilled by MPs on prices at the pump and agreed to consider entering into a fuel model which would give more transparency. The government has been mulling a scheme whereby petrol stations would have to share live prices in efforts to bring more price transparency for drivers – a similar system [...]
Bank of England’s Tenreyro warns more interest rate hikes risks pushing inflation below target June 27, 2023 A Bank of England official has said raising interest rates too aggressively could push inflation below the central bank’s target over the coming years. Departing monetary policy committee (MPC) member and professor at the London School of Economics Silvana Tenreyro today said tightening borrowing costs in an economy that is undergoing a severe external energy [...]
Bank of England and Rishi Sunak fail to win over investors on inflation fight June 27, 2023 Investors are sweating over Britain’s inflation problem running out of control and the Bank of England being unable to solve it any time soon, exclusive research for City A.M. has revealed. More than a year of raging prices has eroded confidence in policymakers’ ability to ease the cost of living crisis. Some 56 per cent [...]
Pressure on supermarkets to lower prices sends food inflation to new low June 27, 2023 Supermarkets slashing the prices of kitchen staples such as bread, milk and cheese has helped ease food inflation in a welcome boost for shoppers. Food inflation fell to 14.6 per cent in June, down from 15.4 per cent in May, according to figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC). The decline marks the second consecutive monthly [...]
Brexit trade restrictions will fuel food inflation, lobby group warns June 26, 2023 Proposed restrictions on post-Brexit trade will pile costs onto consumers, representatives of the UK’s fresh produce industry warned. The Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC) warned that an extra £10m from import charges would have to be passed on to consumers, further fuelling food inflation. In a letter to the government seen by The Guardian, the FPC [...]