Let’s all hand our cash over to the Treasury to pay off UK’s £2.5 trillion debt pile (not) June 27, 2023 Here’s a fun fact. If everyone in the UK worked for a year and gave all their earnings to the Treasury, the government could nearly repay the country’s more than £2.5 trillion debt pile. Alright, that’s oversimplifying the equation. But it does illustrate a principle in economics that often gets lost in the deluge of [...]
Rich Brits only group to pocket disposable income rise as inflation chokes poorest families’ finances June 26, 2023 The richest households in the UK are the only group to have undergone a living standards improvement over the last year, while poorer families are being whacked by sky high energy and food bills, according to research out today. Top earners in Britain have seen their post-bill weekly income increase 2.1 per cent over the [...]
Onshore wind is not just about net zero, it’s a vote winner June 26, 2023 Onshore wind is not just about going green, it's a vote winner that could ease bills and liberalise planning for housing and transport.
Profiteering? Supermarkets to face Parliamentary grilling this week June 25, 2023 Supermarket bosses will be probed this week on whether or not they are profiteering from high prices. Lead figures from UK ‘Big four’ grocers, including Morrison’s boss David Potts, will face questions from MPs on Tuesday on red hot food and fuel prices, and when customers might see price falls. Sainsbury’s’ food commercial director, Tesco’s [...]
Ex Asda boss: Cutting prices for cash-strapped Brits is ‘very important’ after Sunuk plea June 23, 2023 Supermarkets regard cutting prices as “very important”, according to a former boss of Asda, after the Prime Minister warned retailers about pricing “responsibly and fairly”. Andy Clarke, who served as Asda’s chief executive officer between 2010 and 2016, said the big chains were “heavily focused” on competitive pricing as the industry hit back over suggestions [...]
Hotel Chocolat shares plummet 13 per cent after profit warning on flagging consumer sentiment June 23, 2023 Hotel Chocolat shares have plummeted by around 12 per cent as the premium brand is expected to be back in the red. The retailer, which has fallen victim to cash-strapped Brits cutting back on luxuries, said it now anticipates revenue of £201.8m and underlying profit before tax of £0.3m for the 2023 financial year. It [...]
Morrisons loyalty scheme helps hike sales to £3.7bn June 22, 2023 Morrisons has recorded a 0.9 per cent decline in group revenues, blaming a slowdown in sales across its petrol stations. During the quarter, its total sales excluding its fuel offering rose by 3.1 per cent to £3.7bn, and sales across its wholesale channel were also up 20 per cent. The former ‘Big Four’ grocery, which [...]
Explainer: Not the best time to be a university student in the UK June 22, 2023 It hasn’t been a very cheerful week in the world of economic news. Today the Bank of England raised interest rates for the thirteenth time in a row. Mortgage payments keep on going up, as rates continue to rise. Everyone is affected – families, individuals young and old, and students too. It’s not surprising then [...]
DS Smith: Inflation can’t keep profits boxed up for Amazon cardboard provider June 22, 2023 DS Smith reported soaring profits and trading in line with expectations in its full year results this morning, as the package specialist continued to show strong resistance to high inflation and rising paper costs. The London-listed group – which delivers boxes and paper products to companies including Amazon and Brewdog – saw pre-tax profits up [...]
Government accuses peers of seeking to delay controversial strike reforms June 21, 2023 The government has accused peers of trying to delay controversial strike reforms that unions fear will make it easier to sack workers. The House of Lords had made a series of amendments to the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill aimed at protecting workers and trade unions, plus requiring the government to consult further on the [...]