Scorching summer boosts grocery sales but volumes dip amid cost of living crunch July 26, 2022 Total till grocery sales were elevated this month as sweltering summer temperatures encouraged shoppers to spend more at the supermarket. According to NielsenIQ data, total till grocery sales were up 4.4 per cent in the four weeks to 16 July, with sales up 5.6 per cent in the last week when scorching weather started. Price [...]
Bridgepoint boasts success despite economic challenges and announces solid first half of 2022 July 26, 2022 Shares in private growth investor Bridgepoint surged today after it shrugged off recessionary fears to post a jump in pre-tax profits for the first half of the year. The FTSE-250 firm said revenues topped £140.1m in the six months to the end of June, up from £122.2m in the same period last year, as underlying pre-tax [...]
Unilever boosts sales growth guidance and suggests not the end of price hikes July 26, 2022 Consumer goods giant Unilever has seen sales propelled more than eight per cent after hiking prices of food and drink to mitigate cost increases. Underlying sales growth of 8.1 per cent was “driven by strong pricing to mitigate input cost inflation, which, as expected, had some impact on volume,” Alan Jope, chief executive officer said [...]
Amazon says inflation and operating costs force e-com giant to hike price of Prime subscription for UK customers July 26, 2022 Amazon has confirmed it plans to hike the price of its Prime delivery and streaming service due to “increased inflation and operating costs”. The technology giant offers free unlimited delivery, entertainment streaming and live sport through the Prime service. It said it will increase the price of Prime from £7.99 each month to £8.99 from [...]
No pressure? Gazprom cuts gas flows into Europe as cold winter months loom July 25, 2022 Gazprom plans to further cut gas flows into Europe, raising the chilling prospect of rationing and blackouts this winter.
4,500 TSB staff to be given £1,000 payment to weather cost-of-living crisis July 25, 2022 Around 4,500 staff at TSB are to be given a £1,000 payment after the high street lender became the latest firm to announce payouts to help employees weather the cost-of-living crisis. The payment will be made to all staff at the bank earning £35,000 or less and will be made in two stages – one [...]
London markets muted ahead of US Federal Reserve rate decision July 25, 2022 London markets were mixed today as traders brace for another potential rate bazooka from the US Federal Reserve on Wednesday. The capital’s premier FTSE 100 index edged 0.41 per cent higher to 7,306.30 points, while the domestically-focused mid-cap FTSE 250 index, which is more aligned with the health of the UK economy, dropped 0.11 per [...]
Inflation shock sends chill through British factories, but hiring holds up July 25, 2022 A softening in the UK economy caused by surging inflation has clamped down on UK factories, a closely watched survey published today reveals. A net balance of six per cent of British manufacturers posted new order growth over the last three months, down sharply from 25 per cent in the three months to June, according [...]
US Federal Reserve to back up monster rate hike with another 75 basis point move July 25, 2022 The US Federal Reserve will back up its monster rate rise last month with another big 75 basis point hike this week as it chases down scorching inflation across the pond. That’s according to Wall Street analysts, who think Fed chair Jerome Powell and the rest of the federal open market committee (FOMC) will need [...]
Govt expands software scheme to help a million more UK small businesses July 25, 2022 A government scheme that slashes the price of leading software, boosting productivity and growth of the UK’s small businesses, has more than tripled its reach of UK firms from today.