Post-Christmas price rises of as much as 50% attributed to cost increases across supply chainIkea has increased the price of its flat-pack furniture by up to 50%, blaming supply chain costs caused by Covid-19, in a move that will further stoke growing …
Harrods restaurant staff strike averted after pay victory
UVW union says deal represents a new benchmark for pay in the hospitality sectorRestaurant workers at Harrods say they have won a 25% increase in pay, with some chefs now earning more than £12.50 an hour – averting a threatened strike during Christmas …
Operation Save Christmas: retailers’ desperate dash to meet demand
Large stores are having to be creative to meet booming online orders at a time of staff and stock shortagesAn army of 3,000 staff will fan out from Marks & Spencer’s head office this week with one mission in mind: meeting the Christmas boom.Staff w…
UK shoppers face biggest price rises in over 30 years this Christmas
Empty shelves and shortages caused higher spending in November according to retailersShoppers face the biggest price rises in over 30 years this Christmas after fears of widespread shortages sent people rushing to the shops this month.According to a su…
Black Friday: how to avoid scams when shopping for deals
Fraudsters aim to exploit shoppers’ desire to save money, but follow these tips before splashing outBlack Friday and Cyber Monday aren’t only on shoppers’ and retailers’ radars – scammers take any opportunity they can to exploit our eye for a bargain, …
Want to be a greener food shopper? We ask experts for their advice
Leading experts advise on the impact of deliveries, buying organic, packaging and food wasteHow do UK supermarkets rate on the climate crisis?We want to make the right decisions when we shop, but with so many different options on offer, how are we supp…
Why September’s dip in UK inflation may be a false dawn
Analysis: Covid support schemes have distorted official data and experts fear inflation will resume its ascentUK inflation falls despite supply crisis and rising petrol pricesCoronavirus – latest updatesJust when everyone was preparing for a stratosphe…
Analysis: six squeezes on the UK economy from bills to shopping to petrol
Britain is short of 100,000 lorry drivers, energy firms are sinking, food items are running scarce and employers are scrambling for staff as multiple crises eruptMany of the problems facing the economy relate to Britain’s shortage of 100,000 lorry driv…
The Tories should take back control of food supply policy | Letter
Kate Howell says the value of sustainable producers and independent retailers needs to be recognised and supportedYour report from the Tory party conference cites Liz Truss’s view that the government is not responsible for food shortages in the shops (…
Smaller packs, same price: curse of ‘shrinkflation’ hits shoppers’ baskets
Food suppliers are cutting pack sizes and raising checkout prices in response to rising costsUK faces ‘grim winter’ as cost of living crisis quickens paceRising inflation ‘could trigger global sell-off that would harm UK’Shoppers should watch out for s…