McDonald’s UK expansion plans hamstrung by beefy bureaucracy, says boss June 18, 2023 McDonald's' UK boss has warned that it can take up to three years to achieve planning permission for a restaurant - slowing down expansion plans
‘Great un-retirement’ underway as cost of living forces people to get back to work June 17, 2023 A “great un-retirement” could be getting under way, according to Age UK, as rising living costs force people to change their later life plans. The charity said it is continuing to hear from older people whose retirement aspirations “are being ruined by the impact of inflation”. One person told the charity: “Had to take early [...]
Cost of pasta bake, fish finger supper and spag bol up 27 per cent, Which finds June 16, 2023 The cost of popular family meals such as pasta bake, fish fingers, chips and beans, plus home-made spaghetti bolognese has increased by up to 27 per cent over the last year, figures show. Which found the prices of pasta sauce, penne pasta and cheddar cheese to make a quick pasta bake for four people have [...]
European Central Bank hikes rates 25 basis points to 2001 and hints at more to come June 15, 2023 The European Central Bank (ECB) today signed off what many thought would be its final interest rate rise, but lingering concerns about high inflation may lure the monetary authority into further increases, experts have bet. The monetary authority of the 20 countries using the euro sent borrowing costs up 25 basis points to 3.5 per [...]
‘London buzzing’: City pub favourite Fuller’s boosted by summer drinking as workers return to office June 15, 2023 The chief executive of Fuller’s has said London is “buzzing” with activity as sunny spells and a return to office working has helped boost business trade. Simon Emeny, Fuller’s’ chief reported an increase in corporate booking across its almost 400 strong pub estate as employees returned to the office post-pandemic. The pub chain also reported [...]
Pound hits highest level against US dollar in over a year as traders bet Bank of England will outmuscle Fed June 14, 2023 Pound sterling today climbed to its highest level against the US dollar in over a year, driven upwards by investors betting that the Bank of England will surpass the Federal Reserve in its interest rate rise cycle to bring down inflation. Britain’s currency jumped around 0.7 per cent today to nearly $1.27, taking it to [...]
Pyrex maker files for US bankruptcy after inflation and high rates batter sales June 14, 2023 The maker of Pyrex and Instant Pot has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy as dwindling sales and high inflation have battered the business. Instant Brands, which is US owned, is said to have much as $1bn (£790m) in liabilities. Instant Brand, which trades in John Lewis and Argos for upwards of £180, was impacted by [...]
US inflation slips to lowest level in two years and to more than half of UK rate June 13, 2023 Inflation in the US has fallen to its lowest level in two years, setting Britain even further out as suffering the toughest price pressures in the developed world, official figures out today show. Prices rose four per cent over the year to May, down from a rate of 4.9 per cent in the previous month, [...]
CMA hits out at Asda and Sainsbury’s for restricting competition June 13, 2023 Asda and Sainsbury’s broke anti-competition rules a combined total of 32 times between 2011 and 2019, the competition watchdog said this morning. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said the ‘Big Four’ supermarkets broke the Groceries Market Investigation (Controlled Land) Order 2010, which was brought in to stop supermarkets imposing new restrictions that stop rivals [...]
Bread, beef, watermelon and salad dressing: Waitrose joins supermarket war cutting price of 200 products June 12, 2023 Waitrose has slashed the price of more than 200 products as part of a £100 million investment plan to lower customer bills. The supermarket has cut the cost of more than 100 products by at least 10 per cent , with everyday items such as bread and mince receiving some of the biggest reductions. The [...]