Poundland owner Pepco to accelerate plan for new stores as profit booms December 13, 2022 Poundland owner Pepco will accelerate its store rollout strategy as it looks to entice cash-strapped shoppers, after posting elevated profit. The discount retailer said it was taking an increased focus on new stores in Western Europe and a refit programme in Central and Eastern Europe. Pepco was upping its annual capex spend to between €350m [...]
Energy bosses laughing all the way to the bank as Brits face record energy bills amid cold weather December 13, 2022 Millions of British households are expected to rake up record energy bills as have been warned their energy bills may skyrocket over the next few days as the cold weather continues to dominate the UK. It comes as the Met Office and UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued a severe cold weather alert for England [...]
Investors take risk off approach to open busy data and rates week December 12, 2022 Investors ditched risky assets yesterday ahead of a bumper week of global economic announcements before the Christmas break, weighing on London’s FTSE 100. The capital’s premier index shed 0.41 per cent to close at 7,445.97 points, while the domestically-focused mid-cap FTSE 250 index, which is more aligned with the health of the UK economy, fell [...]
UK economic bounce back a false dawn as recession still looms December 12, 2022 The UK economy is bouncing back, latest figures show, but economists still expect the country to tip into a record long recession. Gross domestic product (GDP) climbed 0.5 per cent in October, swinging back from a contraction over the summer, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said today. The figures beat the City’s expectations. London’s [...]
Majestic to freeze wine prices for pubs and restaurants until spring December 12, 2022 Wine seller Majestic has frozen prices for pubs and restaurants until next spring, as the hospitality industry grapples with a tough winter. The country’s largest wine retailer said it would lock its prices for venues until the end of April 2023. Hospitality venues have been struggling with hiked costs across the board with energy to [...]
All quiet on the home front: a resettling is on the cards for new homes and mortgages December 12, 2022 The UK economy has weathered its fair share of turbulent storms over the past few years: from a global pandemic, to war, burgeoning energy prices and now escalating cost of living pressures and interest rates; yet the housing market has remained robust throughout. But rising costs are catching up with potential homebuyers. The next two [...]
UK factories on course to sink into recession next year December 12, 2022 UK factories are on course to sink into recession next year driven by the wider economic slowdown and swelling costs cooling activity, a new survey out today shows. Manufacturing output will shrink 3.2 per cent in 2023, according to Make UK and BDO. The pair have been consistently slashing their forecasts for industrial output throughout [...]
London economy contracts as rampant inflation chills spending December 12, 2022 London’s economy contracted last month as it is squeezed by roaring inflation and swelling business costs, a new survey out today shows. Rampant price rises prompting a spending slowdown from consumers sent a chill through businesses in November, according to NatWest’s purchasing managers’ index (PMI). The high street bank’s PMI dropped to a 22-month low [...]
Christmas strikes: Government to hold crisis meetings as army called in December 11, 2022 The government will hold a series of crisis meetings this week to try and minimise disruption during widespread Christmas strikes, with the government now calling in the military. Cabinet Office minister Oliver Dowden will convene two Cobra meetings with ministers from several departments as the UK faces crippling strikes in hospitals, airports and railways. The [...]
City braces for final economic figures before Christmas break December 11, 2022 The City is bracing for a string of big economic announcements in what will be the final busy week of news before the Christmas break. Tomorrow, fresh gross domestic product (GDP) figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) are expected to show the UK economy recovered in October. But, the 0.4 per cent growth [...]