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
Yearly water bills to rise by average £123 from April 1
The rise, confirmed by industry body Water UK, will take the average bill in England and Wales from £480 to £603 for the next year alone.
By Josie Clarke
30 Jan 2025
Business News
Almost 11 million people hit by post delays over Christmas – Citizens Advice
The worst-hit region for letter delays in the past month was the South East, with 27% of people not receiving post on time.
By Josie Clarke
30 Jan 2025
Business News
Retail crime ‘spiralling out of control’ to more than 2,000 incidents a day
Over the last year, there were 70 incidents a day which involved a weapon – more than double the previous year, an annual BRC survey has found.
By Josie Clarke
30 Jan 2025
Business News
Cans of Coca-Cola and Appletiser recalled in UK amid chlorate findings
All affected cans have the production codes from 328 GE to 338 GE, which can be found on the base of the can.
By Josie Clarke
29 Jan 2025
Business News
Healthier food grows more expensive at twice rate of unhealthy options – report
Food that is lower in fat, salt and sugar is now more than twice as expensive per calorie than less healthy products, the Food Foundation study found.
By Josie Clarke
29 Jan 2025
Business News
Weekend high street visits down 5% despite shoppers’ best intentions
Nearly one in four shoppers admit to visiting their high street less frequently last year, according to the latest Movers Index from Virgin Media O2.
By Josie Clarke
28 Jan 2025
Business News
Food prices see fastest monthly jump since April last year
Food prices overall increased by 0.5% between December and January, according to British Retail Consortium figures.
By Josie Clarke
28 Jan 2025
Business News
Steep drop in consumer confidence amid concerns of ‘dark days ahead’
GfK’s Consumer Confidence Index shows particularly steep falls in consumer views on the wider UK economy.
By Josie Clarke
24 Jan 2025
Crime
Amazon driver handed knife used in Southport murders to adult ‘visibly over 25’
The online retailer said it had launched an urgent investigation in relation to ‘this tragic case’.
By Josie Clarke
23 Jan 2025
Business News
Consumer expectations for economy plunge to ‘new low’
A survey found expectations for the state of the economy over the next three months have worsened to minus 34, down from minus 27 in December.
By Josie Clarke
23 Jan 2025
Business News
Waitrose brings back free coffee for members without them having to buy anything
Currently, the upmarket grocer requires myWaitrose members to buy something before they can claim their free drink.
By Josie Clarke
22 Jan 2025
Science
Calorie labelling on menus and food products has ‘small’ effect, review finds
Labelling led to an average 1.8% reduction in the calories people bought – equating to 11 calories in a 600 calorie meal – or around two almonds.
By Josie Clarke
17 Jan 2025
Business News
Best and worst energy firms revealed as customer choice slowly returns
British Gas, Scottish Power and Ovo Energy languish at the bottom of the annual rankings compiled by Which?
By Josie Clarke
17 Jan 2025
Business News
Telecoms bills must now be in pounds and pence format to end ‘nasty surprises’
Phone, broadband and pay TV providers are now banned from linking price rises to future rates of inflation.
By Josie Clarke
17 Jan 2025
Business News
Two thirds of leading retailers warn Budget will force them to hike prices
The BRC poll of 52 chief financial officers found 70% are ‘pessimistic’ or ‘very pessimistic’ about trading conditions over the coming 12 months.
By Josie Clarke
15 Jan 2025
Money
Funeral costs reach record high as one in five families struggle to pay
The figure has risen 3.5% in a year, while the overall cost of dying has reached £9,797, according to the 21st SunLife Cost of Dying report.
By Josie Clarke
15 Jan 2025
Politics
Price of resale tickets to be capped under touts crackdown plans
The measures would aim to prevent organised touts reselling a large number of tickets at vastly inflated prices, the Government said
By Josie Clarke
10 Jan 2025
Money
Surge in households seeking help with energy bills in 2024, says Citizens Advice
Citizens Advice said its staff helped the equivalent of one person every two working minutes throughout the year.
By Josie Clarke
10 Jan 2025
UK
Tesco urged to drop ‘unethical’ in-store infant feeding advice trial
Tesco said the pilot ‘was designed to offer additional support to parents and carers through free and impartial advice’.
By Josie Clarke
9 Jan 2025
Business News
Millions head online at 6am, 7am and 8am as alarms go off, data shows
Millions of people pick up their phone on the hour – likely when most alarms are set for – and begin scrolling, Virgin Media O2 data suggests.
By Josie Clarke
9 Jan 2025