Businesses warn inflation and supply chain crisis could be worse than impact of Covid-19 June 5, 2022 THE BUSINESSES at the backbone of the UK economy are increasingly worried inflation and supply chain issues will be more damaging to their prospects than the Covid-19 pandemic was, according to a closely watched sentiment tracker. Accountants BDO’s survey of medium-sized businesses suggests economic headwinds are squeezing both margins and wages – with tax hikes [...]
RAC urges more support for drivers amid near-record petrol price spike June 5, 2022 Petrol prices rocketed over 10p last month, the second largest monthly rise on record, putting more pressure on road users.
Oil markets to open high as supply concerns escalate despite OPEC+ boost June 5, 2022 Oil prices will begin trading next week just below the $120 milestone, with expectations of rebounding demand putting pressure on tight supplies.
Pint at London pub surges past £8 price amid sky-high inflation June 4, 2022 The average price of a pint has surpassed £8 at one London pub, for the first time, as historic levels of inflation have forced landlords to up prices across the country. The price tag of a drink has soared over 70 per cent since the financial crisis of 2008, according to data from insights firm [...]
Jubilee high street boom risks being upended by cost of living crisis June 3, 2022 The Jubilee fervour driving shoppers back to bricks-and-mortar stores is “fragile” and could be upended by the cost-of-living crisis, experts have warned. According to figures released by the British Retail Consortium (BRC), visitor numbers inched up 0.6% between April and May, but are down 12.5% since 2019. However, this is ahead of Italy, France and [...]
Wood Group sells off consultancy division for £1.5bn as it doubles down on shareholder returns June 1, 2022 John Wood Group has sold off its consulting business Built Environment to WSP Global for a whopping $1.9bn (£1.5bn). The immediate use of the sale proceeds will be used to reduce Wood’s net debt, which stood at $1.4bn in December 2021, as well as strengthening its balance sheet. Commenting on the sale, chief exec Robin Watson [...]
Petrol retailers are not profiteering despite record prices at the pumps, say experts May 31, 2022 Petrol retailers are not engaging in wholesale profiteering amid record forecourt prices said industry analysts.
Sadiq Khan sets aside £43m for Londoners struggling to keep homes warm May 31, 2022 London mayor Sadiq Khan has set aside £43m to boost his Warmer Homes programme, which seeks to support those in poorly insulated properties. With energy bills expected to rise again this winter, amid a cost of living crisis, Khan is looking to create grants of between £5,000 and £25,000 available to low-income households. Energy regulator [...]
Sluggish start for FTSE 100 as Russian oil imports cut off May 31, 2022 The FTSE 100 was off to a sluggish start on Tuesday after EU leaders have hashed out a plan to block more than two-thirds of Russian oil imports. The capital’s premier FTSE 100 index was up just 0.2 per cent while the brent crude price rose again, at $124 a barrel. “Given Russia currently supplies [...]
Tony Blair: Ditch the expensive ‘raincoats’ and just cut energy bills in half with mandatory green homes May 31, 2022 Free energy plans should be offered to every home in the UK to lower emissions while reducing energy bills before making them mandatory in the mid-2030s, according to a report by the Tony Blair Institute, shared with City A.M. this morning. The recommendation is one of a number of measures the report says could halve [...]