UK inflation poised to slip out of the double digits for first time since last summer April 16, 2023 UK inflation is poised to slip out of the double digits for the first time since last summer in what could be the beginning of the cost of living crisis gradually releasing its grip on families over the rest of the year. Official figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on Wednesday are expected [...]
Rishi Sunak bans new smart motorways amid safety concerns April 16, 2023 The building of new smart motorways is being cancelled as prime minister Rishi Sunak acknowledged concerns about safety and cost. Fourteen planned smart motorways – including 11 that are already paused and three earmarked for construction – will be removed from government road building plans, given financial pressures and in recognition of the lack of [...]
IEA warns OPEC+ cuts risk supply deficit as it predicts record oil demand April 15, 2023 Output cuts announced by OPEC+ producers risk exacerbating an oil supply deficit, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said,
Coalition of 15 investors with total assets of £2.4trn plead with firms to protect lowest-paid workers April 14, 2023 A coalition of investors are demanding that businesses take “decisive action” to protect their lowest paid workers during the cost of living crisis. The coalition, which includes 15 investors with a combined £2.4trn in assets under management, argued that the lowest-paid workers are “disproportionately impacted by the rising cost of living.” Companies should ensure that [...]
Shoppers head to frozen food aisles to quell ‘sizzling hot’ inflation hit April 14, 2023 Shoppers are opting for frozen meat and meals like pizza and chips as food price inflation continues to add hundreds of pounds to households’ grocery shops. New figures from research firm Kantar showed frozen food sales were ticking up in British supermarkets. Frozen poultry like chicken and game meats increased in the three months to [...]
Explainer: Tesco needs more than cheap milk to keep loyalty in the supermarket price war with Aldi and Lidl April 14, 2023 Tesco has had a rocky week. In the midst of a cost of living crisis, remaining loyal to businesses is tough, as the nation has been forced to favour being frugal over buying name brand goods. This revelation rang all too true for Tesco on Thursday, as Britain’s biggest supermarket reported its operating profit was [...]
FTSE 100 live: London markets make small gains with retailers in focus as sterling stays strong April 14, 2023 Markets opened marginally higher on Friday with a mixed performance from retailers while the pound continued to strengthen as investors increasingly expect the Fed to start cutting rates across the pond. The FTSE 100 opened 0.20 per cent higher at 7,859.58, while the domestically-focused mid-cap FTSE 250 index, which is more aligned with the health [...]
Wall Street rally lifts tech stocks in latest signal US inflation is cooling, now eyes turn to Fed rate decision April 14, 2023 A rally on Wall Street on Thursday lifted stocks to their highest level in almost two months following the latest sign that inflation continues to cool. The S&P 500 rose 1.3 per cent after a report showed inflation at the wholesale level slowed last month by more than expected. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained [...]
Brits warned of ‘Coronation inflation’ DOUBLING holiday let prices over the long weekend April 14, 2023 Thousands of tourists are expected to flock to London for May’s Coronation, prompting warnings of sky-high hotel and hospitality prices. Data published today by the rental management platform Guestready shows that the price of holiday lets for the coronation period has risen by 67 per cent year on year. Guestready’s analysis found that the average [...]
FTSE 100 close: London index squeezes out gain as UK economy unexpectedly flatlines in February April 13, 2023 London’s FTSE 100 nudged higher today after fresh figures showed the UK economy unexpectedly stalled in February, while Tesco clocked decent gains despite posting a big profit slump. The capital’s premier index edged 0.24 per cent higher to close at 7,843.39 points, while the domestically-focused mid-cap FTSE 250 index, which is more aligned with the [...]