Unemployment drops further as UK pay falls for second month in a row amid inflation frenzy April 12, 2022 According to the Office for National Statistics, unemployment fell yet again to 3.8 per cent in February, down from 3.9 per cent. The UK employment rate was largely unchanged on the quarter at 75.5 per cent, but still sat below pre-Covid pandemic levels. The ONS’ estimate of payrolled employees for March 2022 shows a small [...]
Retail sales slow as consumer confidence now lower than horsemeat scandal April 12, 2022 Retail sales slowed last month as consumer confidence has taken a hit as shoppers feel the bite of rising cost inflation. According to data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and KPMG, sales increased by 3.1 per cent in March. This was worse than a three-month average growth of 6.9 per cent. What’s more, retail [...]
M&S cut prices on a range of items as shoppers face cost of living crunch April 11, 2022 Marks & Spencer has slashed prices on some core grocery items as it hopes to woo shoppers amid rising costs. Supermarkets are endeavouring to maintain their market shares while shoppers have flocked to discount retailers to mitigate the cost of living crunch in recent weeks. M&S revealed on Monday that it had lowered prices on [...]
Co-op profit hammered by supply chain disruption as chair warns of ‘stark headwinds’ April 7, 2022 The Co-operative Group’s profit has taken a battering after “significant supply chain disruption” last year, as the grocer pledges to support customers amid a cost of living crunch. The supermarket reported profit before tax of £57m for 2021, down £70m on the year before when it pocketed £127m. The Manchester-based grocer did mark higher profit [...]
Egg farmers: Supermarkets must raise prices by 40p to avert sector crisis March 31, 2022 Egg farmers have called on supermarkets to up the price of a dozen eggs by 40p as producers face cost pressures. Many free range egg farmers are bleeding cash on every egg laid by one of their hens, according to the British Free Range Egg Producers Association (BFREPA). Shoppers in the UK were unable to [...]
BlackRock President: Entitled generation should prepare to sacrifice amid surging inflation March 30, 2022 BlackRock’s Rob Kapito said an entire generation should “put on seat belts” as the economy feels the impact of high inflation. “For the first time, this generation is going to go into a store and not be able to get what they want,” the president of the $10 trillion asset manager said of shortages, Bloomberg [...]
Huel: No rush for IPO as meal replacement drinks biz passes £100m revenue March 30, 2022 The CEO of start-up Huel has said its £1.50 meal replacement drinks offer struggling households affordable nutrition as inflation skyrockets. “We feel we can support [people in the cost of living crunch,] given our products start at £1.50 a meal,” CEO James McMaster told CityA.M. Households are facing sharp grocery bill increases this spring, as [...]
Shop price inflation hits highest rate in more than decade amid cost of living crunch March 30, 2022 Shop price annual inflation has hit the highest rate since September 2011 as Brits face a cost of living crunch. According to data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and NielsenIQ, the metric hit 2.1 per cent in March. This was an increase from 1.8 per cent in February. Shoppers have flocked to discount retailers [...]
Shoppers turn to Aldi and Lidl as grocery price inflation exceeds 5 per cent March 29, 2022 Grocery price inflation has reached 5.2 per cent over the latest four weeks, as households brace for a cost of living crunch this spring. The rate of price hikes has hit the highest level since April 2012, according to Kantar’s index published on Tuesday morning. Shoppers are turning to discount retailers and own brand products [...]
Asda launches new and larger value range and kills off Smart Price in race to kickstart stalling growth March 29, 2022 Supermarket giant Asda, which was bought by the Issa brothers and backers TDR Capital last year, said this afternoon it will axe its Smart Price range and replace it with new Just Essentials by Asda products. In fact, Asda is launching a new and larger value range, amid the cost of living crisis, as the [...]