British farmers to be given greater protections in future trade deals May 16, 2023 Farmers are to be given greater protections in future trade deals as part of a package of measures unveiled ahead of a No 10 food summit. Downing Street said the government’s initiatives, as well as putting greater emphasis on farmers’ interests during international trade negotiations, include reviewing supply chains to ensure producers are getting a [...]
‘Greedflation’ not to blame for UK price surge, former rate setter claims May 15, 2023 “Greedflation” is not to blame for prices surging in the UK and instead businesses are pushing up prices in response to soaring costs, a former Bank of England rate-setter claimed today. Michael Saunders, an ex-member of the monetary policy committee – the nine strong group that sets interest rates in Britain – and now senior [...]
EU top body lifts economic growth forecast saying Europe dodged dreaded recession May 15, 2023 The European Union’s executive body has raised its economic growth forecast, saying Europe has dodged a winter recession that was feared amid an energy crisis. The outlook for the 20 countries using the euro currency improved to growth of 1.1 per cent this year from 0.9 per cent in the previous predictions in February, the [...]
Hospitality: BoE interest rates hike could ‘significantly impact businesses’ May 11, 2023 The hospitality sector has expressed concerns that the Bank of England’s decision to raise interest rates could “significantly impact business viability,” as the interest rates on loans many pubs and restaurants took out to survive the pandemic are now set to rise. “Hospitality was the business sector most affected by the pandemic, with a large [...]
Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey rebuffs Huw Pill’s ‘accept you’re worse off’ comment May 11, 2023 The Governor of the Bank of England has suggested that the Bank’s most senior economist chose the wrong words when saying that people and businesses should accept they are poorer now because of inflation. Andrew Bailey said that there had been a hit to national income, and did not appear to criticise the substance of [...]
Bank of England hikes interest rates for twelfth time in a row and warns of ‘significant’ inflation risk May 11, 2023 The Bank of England today hiked interest for the twelfth time in a row and to their highest level since October 2008, but warned inflation will stay higher for longer than it previously thought. The monetary policy committee (MPC) – the nine-member group tasked with setting interest rates in the UK – voted 7-2 in [...]
Bank of England ditches any threat of recession in biggest GDP upgrade since 1997 independence May 11, 2023 Any threat of a recession in Britain this year and over the medium term has today been scrapped by the Bank of England in what was the largest upgrade to the central bank’s GDP projections since it was made independent in 1997. The UK economy is now tipped to broadly flatline this year and start [...]
Supermarkets do butter to ease soaring prices for shoppers May 10, 2023 The price of a slice of toast with butter is about to get cheaper as some of the UK’s biggest supermarkets have slashed the price of the kitchen staples following criticism over high prices. Sainsbury’s said that as commodity prices started to fall on wheat and butter, it is now able to reduce the price [...]
US inflation falls faster than expected to 4.9 per cent, raising chances of Fed rate hike pause May 10, 2023 US inflation fell faster than expected last month, potentially paving the way for the Federal Reserve to pause its aggressive interest rate hike campaign at its meeting next month, official figures unveiled today unveiled. The rate of price increases in the world’s largest economy slipped to 4.9 per cent in April, down from five per [...]
Wetherspoon on track for ‘record’ year as budget boozer shrugs off inflation woes May 10, 2023 JD Wetherspoon is expecting a “record” high in sales this year as the budget pub chain shrugs off inflationary and supply chain woes, sending its shares – with the company’s shares soaring over seven per cent when markets opened this morning. The London-listed boozer said that sales during the Easter week were the highest-ever for [...]