All Economy articles
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NewsConsumer confidence drops again as worries over job security set in
Consumer confidence has dropped again, wiping out modest improvements seen in December and January as shoppers worry about their personal finances and widespread job losses
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NewsFood manufacturer confidence remains negative, FDF report finds
Confidence at food makers improved in the golden quarter of 2025, but remained subdued as the industry battled rising production costs, a new report has found
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Comment & OpinionImmigration is a toxic issue but food & drink must face it
Many in the food and drink industry – and indeed beyond it into the NHS and the care sector – would argue that we simply don’t have enough available workers to fill all the jobs that need to be done, says Ian Wright, partner at Acuti Associates
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Comment & OpinionFood strategy is a policy opportunity we can’t afford to miss
This cannot be another strategy that sits on a shelf, or simply says the right things but has no teeth for delivery, says Andrew Stark, senior research and policy manager at Eating Better
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NewsRetail sales volumes up as discounting encouraged January spending
Increased discounting and sales prompted the largest increase in retail sales volumes in nearly two years in January, as consumers splashed out on bigger ticket items
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NewsInflation falls to lowest level in nearly a year
Inflation has fallen to 3%, its lowest point in almost a year, according to the latest ONS figures
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Promotional FeaturesHow can UK businesses survive the consumer spending shift?
UK consumers are reaching their spending limits after years of cuts. Recent research from AlixPartners reveals that, while fewer plan to reduce spending in 2026, this reflects exhaustion rather than recovery. Only groceries show positive spending intent, as households maintain already-reduced levels.
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Analysis & FeaturesWhy the ONS changing its pricing methodology is so important
The ONS is hugely increasing the number of prices counted to calculate grocery inflation – with far-reaching implications
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NewsConsumers still penny-pinching despite hopes for economy
Consumer confidence fell by 1.1 points in the final quarter of 2025 to –11.1%, reaching its lowest ebb in two years of reporting by Deloitte’s Consumer Tracker
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NewsInflation may dip as ONS adopts loyalty pricing data
The ONS will replace 25,000 monthly price points with 300 million from supermarket till data, capturing loyalty card discounts and actual prices paid rather than shelf prices for the first time
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News‘Robust’ year for dealmaking kept M&A afloat in 2025
Despite geopolitical uncertainty – including a start to the year dominated by news of new US tariffs – dealmaking remained steady
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NewsA third of retailers issued profit warnings in 2025
While the number of profit warnings in the sector fell overall in 2025, retailers were hit by a particularly tough Q3
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NewsConsumer confidence stuck in negative territory
It has now been 10 years since the GfK consumer confidence index was last in positive territory, with a small rise this month to –16
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NewsInflation rises once again as tobacco and transport costs bite
Inflation has risen for the first time in five months, hitting 3.4% in December, as transport, alongside alcohol and tobacco, pushed prices higher
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Comment & OpinionDonald Trump’s latest move is a direct hit to UK food and drink
Food producers are having to build in a ‘risk element’ thanks to Trump’s unpredictability
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NewsPressure on liquidity and profits to worsen in Europe in 2026
The European retail and consumer industry – which in Q4 completed a full year as the most distressed of all sectors – will face even more pressure on liquidity and profits this year
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Comment & OpinionFood prices will rise in 2026 – and suppliers need them to
The 2026 pricing round will filter into retail prices across late January and February, taking inflation back up to 5%, says David Sables, CEO of Sentinel Management Consultants
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News‘Disappointing’ December footfall takes shine off golden quarter
Total footfall during the year was down 0.8% on 2024, with the difference weighted towards the final, ‘golden’ quarter of the year
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NewsOcado grows fastest amid shift to online Christmas ordering
Shoppers increasingly turned to delivery for the ‘big Christmas shop’ in 2025
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Comment & OpinionFeatures editor’s picks 2025: robots, chicken shops and pay gaps
With 2025 drawing to a close – and the weekend almost upon us – we thought this would be a prime opportunity to remind our readers of some of the very best features of the year