Josie Clarke
Business News
Chocolate prices up by almost half in three years
Chocolate price inflation is accelerating as climate change hits West African cocoa producers, the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit said.
By Josie Clarke
17 Apr 2025
Business News
Two thirds say gambling advertising is ‘everywhere’, charity finds
GambleAware urged people to ‘open up’ after a survey suggested 67% of the public believe there is still stigma around gambling harms.
By Josie Clarke
17 Apr 2025
Business News
Brazilian butt lift ads banned by regulator
The ASA said the ads irresponsibly pressured consumers into booking, trivialised the risks, or exploited women’s insecurities around body image.
By Josie Clarke
16 Apr 2025
UK
Water pollution in England at 10-year high, campaigners warn
Firms were collectively set a target of a 40% reduction in pollution incidents but instead recorded a 30% increase, Surfers Against Sewage said
By Josie Clarke
16 Apr 2025
Business News
Warm weather and Mother’s Day spending gives retailers March boost
Total UK retail sales were up 1.1% year on year in March, despite Easter’s later arrival this year, BRC-KPMG figures show.
By Josie Clarke
15 Apr 2025
Business News
Watchdog cracks down on ads for prescription-only weight-loss drugs
In the UK, advertising prescription-only medicines to the public is prohibited.
By Josie Clarke
11 Apr 2025
Business News
Supermarket price war heats up in relief for squeezed consumers
Tesco has signalled that a price war is mounting within the sector.
By Josie Clarke
10 Apr 2025
Business News
All energy firms must give 24/7 support to customers cut off due to meter faults
Customers will be able to get help day or night from August 1 if their meter fault has interrupted their gas or electricity supply, Ofgem said.
By Josie Clarke
10 Apr 2025
Business News
Viagogo reprimanded over ticket ‘face value’ claims
The ASA found the site’s claim that ‘over half the events listed on Viagogo had tickets selling below face value’ was misleading.
By Josie Clarke
9 Apr 2025
Business News
TotalEnergies advert banned for misleading over environmental impact
Adfree cities complained that the ad about wind energy projects failed to mention that the firm’s operations remained mostly based in fossil fuels.
By Josie Clarke
9 Apr 2025
Business News
Local authority pest control call-outs up 3% over a year
Councils responded to an additional 52 rat or mouse-related call-outs per day last year compared with 2022, figures show.
By Josie Clarke
9 Apr 2025
Business News
Mumsnet launches first branded products with Iceland
The five ready meals could all be created at home from scratch using cupboard ingredients and cost £2 each, the parenting site and supermarket said.
By Josie Clarke
7 Apr 2025
Business News
More than two-thirds think rises in first-class stamp price are unfair – poll
A first-class stamp will cost consumers £1.70 – more than double the amount it did in 2020.
By Josie Clarke
7 Apr 2025
Business News
Lidl trials click and collect on ‘middle aisle’ deals
The discounter is testing the scheme, available to its loyalty members via the Lidl Plus app, from April 7.
By Josie Clarke
3 Apr 2025
Business News
Rebel Energy ceases trading
The firm supplies energy to around 80,000 domestic customers and 10,000 non-domestic customers.
By Josie Clarke
1 Apr 2025
Business News
Grocery price inflation edges up as food cost concerns rise among consumers
Supermarket prices are now 3.5% higher than a year ago, up from 3.3% in February, according to analysts Kantar.
By Josie Clarke
1 Apr 2025
Business News
Households urged to seek fixed energy deals as latest price cap hike takes effect
The third consecutive increase to Ofgem’s price cap sees the bill of a typical household paying by direct debit rise 6.4% to £1,849 a year.
By Josie Clarke
1 Apr 2025
Business News
Food inflation continued to edge up in March
Food prices overall are now 2.4% higher than last March, up from 2.1% in February, according to the BRC-NIQ Shop Price Index.
By Josie Clarke
1 Apr 2025
Business News
Awful April: Every household bill going up from Tuesday
Household bills are rising.
By Josie Clarke
1 Apr 2025
Business News
Lowest earners ‘running out of options’ ahead of April bill hikes
Citizens Advice said those on the lowest incomes were ‘already stretched to breaking point’ even before ‘awful April’ bill rises take effect.
By Josie Clarke
31 Mar 2025
Business News
Pensioner, 72, says affording household bills ‘becoming impossible’
Melanie Roberts said she worried about internet and mobile bill increases, as she relied on these services to continue to work and speak to family.
By Josie Clarke
31 Mar 2025