Economy
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News
City snapshot: UK consumer confidence continues to improve as inflation eases
UK consumer confidence improved once more in April as inflation eases, according to the monthly GFK consumer confidence index
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News
City snapshot: Grocery price inflation falls amid increase in promotions
Grocery price inflation fell for the 14th consecutive month back to 3.2% last month, aided by a significant increase in promotional spending
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News
City snapshot: Retail sales flatline in March as food sales fall back
Retail sales volumes were flat in March, despite the boost from an early Easter, as sales in food stores fell
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News
City snapshot: Economy grows in February as UK emerges from recession
The UK economy grew in February despite high levels of rainfall, suggesting the country is emerging from the recession in the final two quarters of 2023
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News
City snapshot: Early Easter boosts March retail sales
Strong food sales in the run-up to this year’s early Easter boosted UK retail sales in March, though non-food sales continued to decline
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Comment and Opinion
As trust in digital systems plummets, cash is back
In 2022 cash use grew for the first time in a decade, says Joanna Blythman, food journalist and author of Swallow This
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Comment and Opinion
Minimum wage, maximum effort: the pay conundrum for food and drink
Skills, expectations and stakes are higher than ever, but the rewards are increasingly in inverse proportion
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Analysis and Features
Inside the shrinking fmcg wage purse: why isn’t pay keeping pace?
The pandemic days of employers making strenuous efforts to support staff are over, as pay lags inflation and competition for roles increases. Instead, more sustainable – and cheaper – support is being offered
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News
City snapshot: Early Easter fails to reverse footfall decline
Easter falling at the end of the March failed to reverse the ongoing decline in retail footfall in 2024, according to the latest data from BRC-Sensormatic IQ
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News
Low Pay Commission to consult on national living wage rates
It comes as employers across the country implemented the new NLW this week, which rose by 9.8% from £10.42 to £11.44 per hour
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Category Report
The great drinkflation: Beer & cider category report 2024
Duty changes are shaking up beer and cider, leading to a stream of lower-abv innovation. But are shoppers being short-changed?
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News
City snapshot: Retail inflation falls to lowest level since 2021
Shop price inflaton has contracted significantly in March, dropping to just 1.3% and the lowest level since December 2021
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News
City snapshot: Grocery sales growth slows as food price inflation eases
Supermarket sales growth slowed to 5.3% during February as food price inflation continues to fall. Plus results from Greggs, Bakkavor and all the rest of this morning’s news from the City
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Analysis and Features
When will the price be right to get deal volumes moving?
Newlat’s exit from Princes takeover talks reflects a market in which deals are not getting done. What’s stalling activity, and will it pick up?
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Comment and Opinion
Has the economy really ‘turned a corner’ after January’s resurgence?
Economists remain divided on whether January signalled a turnaround for consumer spending and retailer sales, says Alex Lawrence, senior strategic insight director at Circana
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News
City snapshot: Grocery price inflation falls to two-year low
Grocery price inflation has fallen to its lowest level since March 2022, according to new data from Kantar, as promotions accelerated supermarkets continue to focus on price
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Comment and Opinion
Flush the roll tax – the battle for consumer savings begins
Who Gives a Crap calls on the Treasury to scrap what it calls the ‘roll tax’. That’s the 20% VAT on toilet tissue
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News
City snapshot: UK retail sales bounce back as food stores return to growth
Retail sales volumes bounced back into stronger than expected growth in January following record falls in December, boosted by a recovery in food sales volumes
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News
City snapshot: Retail sales growth slows as cost of living weighs on consumers
UK retail sales growth slowed in January despite easing inflation as continued weak consumer demand led to ‘lacklustre’ sector performance
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News
Kraft Heinz plans green hydrogen plant for Wigan factory
The £40m scheme is forecasted to enter operation in 2026