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
Food prices to rise by 4.2% this year amid increased costs, industry warns
The BRC said there was ‘little hope of prices going anywhere but up’ amid higher national insurance, National Living Wage and packaging costs.
By Josie Clarke
9 Jan 2025
London
Tube ads showing burning US and euro banknotes banned by regulator
The Advertising Standards Authority ruled that the burning of the US dollar and euro banknotes would have caused serious offence to some people
By Josie Clarke
8 Jan 2025
Business News
Vapes four times more profitable than tobacco to convenience stores – study
The figure comes amid a nine-fold increase in sales of the devices over three years, according to a study.
By Josie Clarke
8 Jan 2025
Business News
Streaming and vinyl makes 2024 record year for music sales
The biggest-selling album of the year was Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department with sales of 783,820 albums.
By Josie Clarke
8 Jan 2025
Business News
Grocery spending reaches new high as inflation jumps to 3.7%
The average household made nearly 17 separate supermarket trips last month, Kantar reported.
By Josie Clarke
7 Jan 2025
Business News
Crucial ‘golden quarter’ fails to save 2024 for retailers
Sales were just 0.4% higher over the three months to December than in the same period in 2023, reflecting households’ cautious spending, figures show.
By Josie Clarke
7 Jan 2025
Business News
‘Drab’ December caps disappointing year for retailers
Shopper visits over the Golden Quarter were down 2.5% on the same period in 2023, according to the BRC-Sensormatic Footfall Monitor.
By Josie Clarke
3 Jan 2025
Money
Households urged to submit energy readings amid forecast of further rises ahead
Households are starting the year with an increase to their energy bills, with another 3% jump expected for April.
By Josie Clarke
1 Jan 2025
Money
Households urged to submit energy readings as further price rises forecast
The latest increase to energy bills comes amid warnings of plunging temperatures and forecasts of a near-3% hike to the price cap in April.
By Josie Clarke
31 Dec 2024
Business News
Wellies, sequins and beer – what we bought in 2024
Wellies, sequins and beer dominated the consumer year of washout weather, touring pop megastars and national sporting celebrations.
By Josie Clarke
27 Dec 2024
Business News
Christmas Eve boost for retailers after shoppers last-minute spree
Footfall was up by 31% across all UK retail destinations up until noon on Tuesday compared with Christmas Eve last year – although that was a Sunday.
By Josie Clarke
24 Dec 2024
Business News
Peak Christmas high street footfall down 5.3% – survey
Shopping centres and retail parks saw ‘modest’ year-on-year shopper increases of 1.4% and 4.9% respectively, MRI Software said.
By Josie Clarke
24 Dec 2024
Business News
Christmas ‘disastrous’ for retailers as households battle ongoing cost pressures
Retail footfall was 11.4% down on last year over the final full week before Christmas, according to Rendle Intelligence and Insights.
By Josie Clarke
23 Dec 2024
UK
Millions of Britons earning average £146 a month on second-hand platforms
Some 22% of consumers have increased their use of second-hand shopping apps in the past three months, the poll found.
By Josie Clarke
19 Dec 2024
Business News
Competition tribunal dismisses £1.3 billion class action claim against BT
Collective Action on Land Lines founder Justin Le Patourel had sought between £300 and £400 in compensation for more than three million customers.
By Josie Clarke
19 Dec 2024
Business News
Households to face average £86 hike to water bills next year alone
Consumer groups said the bill rises will be more than many households can afford, as campaigners accused Ofwat of caving to pressure from firms.
By Josie Clarke
19 Dec 2024
Business News
Household water bills to rise by an average £31 a year from April
The increase is significantly higher than the expected average rise of around £20 a year per household.
By Josie Clarke
19 Dec 2024
Business News
Households set to learn water bills to rise by at least 20% over next five years
Bill rises will begin to take effect from April next year.
By Josie Clarke
18 Dec 2024
Business News
Households urged to take care with festive food hygiene after ‘risks’ findings
Some 45% of people are playing “buffet roulette” by admitting they would be likely to leave food from the fridge out for hours before eating it.
By Josie Clarke
18 Dec 2024
Business News
Lloyds Bank advert banned over ‘misleading’ low carbon claims
The ASA found the ad left out material information about the bank’s financing of greenhouse gas emissions and was ‘likely to mislead’ consumers.
By Josie Clarke
18 Dec 2024