Mitchells and Butler: All Bar One owner lifts guidance as cost pressures ease January 17, 2024 All Bar One owner Mitchells and Butler (M&B) expects profits to be at the top end of forecasts as it cautiously cheered an end to tough cost pressures. The no-frills pub chain, which also owns Toby Carvery, said that like-for-like sales were up 7.7 per cent in the two months to January, over the Christmas [...]
Businesses could ‘struggle to afford’ increase in living wage, experts warn November 27, 2023 Last week, the government announced that the National Living Wage will rise by almost 10 per cent next year, from £10.42 to £11.44 an hour.
Wine sellers bottle it as middle-class customers scale back amid cost of living crisis October 25, 2023 Virgin Wines' chief executive officer, Jay Wright, is "confident" in the group's longer-term prospects — despite a 10 per cent drop in share price.
Shop price inflation drops to lowest level since October 2021 as retailers slash prices on TVs July 2, 2024 Retailers slashing prices on TVs to capitalise on the Euros helped push shop price inflation to its lowest level since October 2021.
London remains UK’s strongest region as capital powers country out of recession March 11, 2024 Despite the decrease, the figures still pointed to a "robust expansion in activity" with London remaining the strongest-performing region in the UK.
CBI boss warns looming minimum wage increase may stoke inflation March 27, 2024 The increase in the minimum wage could reignite inflationary pressures as firms are forced to pass on costs to consumers, the CBI warned.
Fuller’s: Pub chain in ‘great shape’ after strong 2023 topped off by bumper Christmas January 25, 2024 Fuller's, which operates almost 400 pubs and inns, said in the 42 weeks leading up to 20 January, its sales growth was at 11.5 per cent, driven by the festive period.
UK investment fund launches plunge to 20-year low as investors turn to cash January 2, 2024 The number of new UK investment funds has reached its lowest level in two decades, as asset managers are hit by high costs.
One in three delay buying new home as high costs and interest rates bite August 14, 2024 The saga of first-time buyers trying to get on the UK housing ladder is long and well documented. High interest rates, rising costs and rents which swallow up more than a third of wages – in some parts of the country – have meant that around one in three people have delayed their purchase of [...]
Government to ‘encourage’ supermarkets to cap food prices May 28, 2023 Government plans to encourage supermarkets to impose price caps on food staples to help with the cost of living will have no “element of compulsion”, a Cabinet minister has said. Downing Street is understood to be drawing up proposals that would seek to get retailers charging the lowest possible amount for some basic products like [...]