Raw material inflation translates to continued price hikes for Travis Perkins April 29, 2022 Travis Perkins has continued to pass off the growing costs of raw materials through price hikes, as it recovers from sustained supply chain hang-ups. “Pricing accounted for approximately two-thirds of the growth with manufacturer increases continuing to be passed through in an orderly manner,” the retailer said in its latest trading update today. “The group’s [...]
How TikTok saved the bookstar: Will the UK stay in love with reading after lockdown? April 29, 2022 A decade ago, the narrative of bookselling was of the surging popularity of digital book sales, with physical editions left on the shelf. Figures from the Publishers’ Association in 2012 saw digital book sales shoot up 54 per cent while physical book sales dipped five per cent. Fast forward to 2021 and UK publishing sales [...]
Sainsbury’s warns of lower profit as grocer anticipates inflationary pressures April 28, 2022 Sainsbury’s has warned of a lower profit for the coming year as the grocer faces uncertainties including high inflation and cost of living pressures on shoppers. Sainsbury’s posted underlying profit before tax of £730m for the 2021/2022 financial year, a 104 per cent boost on the year prior, but warned of challenges down the line. [...]
Brits slash spending in another sign of looming economic woe April 27, 2022 The worsening cost of living shock is prompting Brits to cut back on unnecessary purchases in a further sign the UK economy is headed for a period of worse than expected growth, reveals fresh figures published today. Households are shunning luxury items in response to their living standards suffering a heavy blow from the highest [...]
Ted Baker: Fashion retailer receives ‘a number’ of bids from suitors as sale hots up April 27, 2022 Ted Baker confirmed it has been the recipient of a number of bids from suitors hoping to snap up the high street fashion retailer. The clothes seller entered into a formal sales process earlier this month, after being wooed several times by US private equity firm Sycamore. It had previously revealed it had been approached [...]
Households face extra £271 on annual food bill as grocery inflation highest since 2011 April 26, 2022 Households are facing an additional £271 to their grocery bill, with price inflation now standing at the highest level in over a decade. According to fresh data from Kantar, grocery price inflation has reached 5.9 per cent, the highest level since December 2011. Brits are facing a slew of price increases this spring, as businesses [...]
The City View: Musk on cusp of Twitter buy, and global markets down April 25, 2022 Today Andy Silvester talks to Jack Barnett, City A.M.’s Economics and Markets reporter. They go through the global market dip and why China’s zero-Covid lockdowns are concerning investors; bank earnings for Q1; and new ONS data showing that 9 in 10 households have recorded an uptick in their cost of living. And in the news, [...]
Shoppers push for tech investment as demand for new payment methods swells April 25, 2022 UK shoppers are pushing retailers to ramp up investment in technology as demand for new payment methods from retailer swells, new data has revealed. Around 80 per cent of shoppers are calling on retailers to invest in tech like frictionless payments to help avoid queues and swerve lengthy checkout forms, according to a report into [...]
Burger King plots 200 new UK restaurants as fast food giant eyes whopper £600m London float April 25, 2022 Burger King is eyeing an additional 200 restaurants in the UK over the next four years, after “significant under-penetration” in the country’s market. The burger chain, which has been eyeing a London float since last year, said its adjusted EBITDA nearly tripled to £49.5m. In results for the year ended 31 December, the fast food [...]
McColl’s warns of ‘softer’ trading as newsagent continues rescue talks April 25, 2022 McColl’s has acknowledged “softer trading” as customers hold back on spending while the chain continues to try secure a financial lifeline from partners. Shares tumbled some 50 per cent in early trading on Monday morning, after the retail firm gave an update on its rescue deal talks. In a trading update on Monday, the convenience [...]