UK inflation smashes forecasts again raising chances of larger Bank of England interest rate hike June 21, 2023 UK inflation is still outpacing experts’ predictions and is running at a level that could lure the Bank of England into an outsized interest rate hike tomorrow, heaping more pain on families and businesses. Official figures out this morning from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed the rate of price hikes held steady at [...]
Gemfields unveils bumper £63.1m sales as rubies prove recession resistant June 21, 2023 Gemfields has announced a hefty hike in revenues at its latest ruby auction, with buyers embracing coloured gemstones.
Halfords profits tumble by £38.3m but expects ‘strong growth’ June 21, 2023 Halfords reported a £38.3m drop in annual profits as the group was hit by a decline in consumer demand for cycling following its lockdown boom and a tough economic climate. For the year, underlying profit before tax slumped to £51.5m compared to £89.8m the prior year and £56m during the pandemic as the retailer invested [...]
Claim of supermarkets profiteering doesn’t pass ‘basic smell test,’ says former Sainsbury’s boss June 21, 2023 The former boss of Sainsbury’s has roundly rejected claims that British supermarkets are profiteering during the cost of living crisis, arguing that the government and regulators should focus on helping those in need instead of considering “interfering in markets”. “This idea that [supermarkets] are somehow profiteering in these circumstances… it doesn’t even pass a basic [...]
Badenoch slammed for ignoring Brexit realities and telling UK firms global trade ‘isn’t too tough’ June 20, 2023 Kemi Badenoch has been criticised by business groups for trying to “shift the blame” after she told British businesses that international trade “isn’t too tough”. The business and international trade secretary said today that the UK has “too many negative tropes about how difficult it all is”. Speaking at the launch of the first e-commerce [...]
Frasers snaps up stakes in Boohoo and Currys June 20, 2023 The company behind Sports Direct has said that it hopes a new stake in Boohoo can lead to collaborations between the fashion brand and Missguided. Frasers Group said that its new holding in its fellow listed company would allow it to find synergies and make its own brands stronger. The business, majority owned by Mike [...]
Grocery inflation falls to lowest monthly rate this year June 20, 2023 Grocery price inflation has fallen to its lowest monthly rate this year – but remains at its sixth highest level since 2008, figures show. Grocery inflation dropped to 16.5 per cent for the four weeks to June 11, down from last month’s 17.2 per cent and March’s record 17.5 per cent according to analysts Kantar. [...]
Sadiq Khan to address ‘cost of doing business’ crisis at summit with Uber and Natwest June 20, 2023 Sadiq Khan is set to address the “cost of doing business crisis” at a crunch summit with firms including Uber, Natwest and KPMG. The mayor of London will welcome more than 200 CEOs to his annual City Hall business reception at the Crystal in east London today. He is expected to tell firms the “cost-of-doing-business [...]
Roger Varian interview: ‘Will I enjoy Royal Ascot? Ask me at the end of the week’ June 19, 2023 Leading trainer Roger Varian on the importance of success at Royal Ascot this week, his ambitions to run Britain’s No1 stable and the future of the horse racing industry. Six days a week at 4:30am, just as the first sunlight is starting to bathe the Cambridgeshire-Suffolk border, horse racing trainer Roger Varian gets up and [...]
Wimbledon hit by fresh rail disruption as ASLEF announce overtime work ban June 19, 2023 Train drivers at 16 train operators will stop working overtime across six days in July, the ASLEF Union announced today, coinciding with the first week of the Wimbledon tennis tournament. ASLEF members will stop working overtime between Monday 3 July and Saturday 8 July in a long running dispute over pay. Mick Whelan, ASLEF’s general [...]