February retail sales perform well but warnings for mid-level retailers as living costs spike March 4, 2022 Purchases of clothes have driven retail sales growth, thanks to the easing of Covid restrictions. Total like-for-like sales swelled 49.6 per cent in February, according to the BDO’s February High Street Sales Tracker. This was from a base of minus 3.1 per cent in February 2021, when the country was in the throes of a [...]
Pubs face extra £800m in energy bills with bosses bracing for cocktail of hiked costs this spring March 3, 2022 Pubs have reported £800m in additional energy bills, with hospitality bosses warning suppliers are refusing to ink new contracts with venues. Firms have reported energy bills ballooning 150 per cent compared to pre-pandemic energy bills, with an average above 100 per cent. The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) said its members had reported that [...]
ONS: Nearly all Brits pinched by cost of living squeeze March 3, 2022 Almost all Brits are feeling the pinch of the cost of living squeeze, causing them to cut back on spending, reveals official figures released today. Over eight in 10 households have noticed an uptick in their cost of living, up five percentage points over the last week, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). [...]
Oil prices storm to near decade highs before talk of Iran deal calms waters March 3, 2022 Oil prices hit near decade highs and closed in on $120 per barrel today, as buyers shun Russian crude amid intensifying fears of supply fears.
Commodities boom drives up the price of EV batteries March 3, 2022 Total battery costs for electric vehicles have more than doubled since the start of the year, according to Rystad Energy.
Retail recovery in ‘sweet spot’ last month as cost of living could discourage shoppers March 3, 2022 High street experts were pleasantly surprised at the robustness of retail footfall last month, but have warned the cost of living crunch may soon deter shoppers. Footfall strengthened a little in February over the month as a whole, to -20.7 per cent below pre-pandemic levels, from -20.8 per cent in January, according to retail experts [...]
Cost of living crunch to intensify as firms prepare to launch price hikes March 3, 2022 Speculation inflation in the UK could breach eight per cent in April is looking even more certain as businesses prepare to hike prices to combat swelling costs, reveals a fresh survey released today. Economists’ bets on the Bank of England’s forecasts for inflation to peak at 7.25 per cent this April being undercooked are looking [...]
UK inflation to hit generational high of 9.5 per cent as Russia-Ukraine war sends energy prices soaring March 2, 2022 The spillover impact of Russia ramping up its assault on Ukraine on energy prices will send the cost of living in the UK to a level not seen in a generation, reveal fresh forecasts by top City analysts. Fears over Moscow squeezing oil and gas flows in retaliation to Western sanctions has pushed energy prices [...]
Government confirms Russia can still send oil and gas to the UK despite port sanctions March 2, 2022 The government confirms Russia can still send oil and gas to the UK, despite a ban on the country's ships docking at British ports.
Petrol prices spike to record £1.55 as oil markets rally amid supply shortage fears March 2, 2022 Petrol prices have broken records again amid concerns of oil supply shortages following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.