Economy

Private labels increase European market share to 34%

Private pet food labels now have a market share of 34% in the six biggest markets in Europe, according to data from Circana. Data collected from France, Italy, Germany, Spain, UK, and Netherlands showed value sales of pet food have grown across Europe by 5.4% over the last four years…

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Retail sales growth slows in July amid heavy rain

The UK’s total retail sales increased by 1.5% in the four weeks to 29 July, against the 2.3% growth experienced in the same month last year. This was below the three-month average growth of 3.5% and the 12-month average growth of 3.9%, according to BRC data. This lacklustre growth in…

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BoE raises interest rates to 5.25%

The Bank of England (BoE) has raised interest rates for the 14th consecutive time to 5.25% in a bid to combat inflation. The bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) sets monetary policy to meet the 2% inflation target. At its meeting ending on 2 August 2023, the MPC voted by a…

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Ofgem publishes energy reform proposals to help businesses

Energy regulator Ofgem has announced a number of reform proposals to improve the standards of customer service for businesses. The new proposals are a result of a consultation with stakeholders over the non-domestic energy market which found that small businesses do not always get the right customer service. The consultation…

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BoE raises interest rate to 15-year high

The Bank of England (BoE) has raised interest rates for the 13th consecutive time to 5%, the highest level in 15 years, after it was revealed that inflation remained at 8.7% in May. The BoE’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted by a majority of 7-2 to increase the rate by…

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BoE raises interest rate for 12th time to 4.5%

The Bank of England (BoE) has raised interest rates for the 12th consecutive time to 4.5%, up from 4.25%. The BoE’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted by a majority of 7-2 to increase the rate by 0.25% in a bid to meet the 2% inflation target. The committee said it…

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Spring Budget: Corporation tax to rise to 25%

Corporation tax is set to rise from 19% to 25% for firms with profits over £250,000, as part of a number of measures announced in chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s Spring Budget. To help offset the corporation tax rise, Hunt also announced a provision of £9bn of “full capital expensing” which for…

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BoE raises interest rates to 4%

The Bank of England (BoE) has announced that interest rates will be raised by 0.5%, bringing the base rate of interest to 4%, the highest level in 14 years. The increase, which is the tenth consecutive increase, was decided after the bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted by a majority…

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Bank of England raises interest rates by 0.5% to 3.5%

The Bank of England (BoE) has announced that interest rates will be raised by 0.5%, bringing the base rate of interest to 3.5%, the highest level in 14 years.  At a meeting held on 14 December 2022, the Bank’s MPC voted by a majority of 6-3 to increase rates by…

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Chancellor reverses almost all mini-budget tax cuts  

Newly appointed chancellor Jeremy Hunt has reversed almost all of the mini-budget commitments made by previous chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng last month, in a statement made at the Treasury today (17 October). He confirmed the basic rate of income tax will remain at 20% “indefinitely” until the economic situation stabilises, marking…

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