Hundreds of grocery prices have soared by more than 20% in two years, according to an investigation by consumer group Which?. The consumer champion analysed the prices of more than 21,000 groceries across two years. Which? compared their average prices at eight major supermarkets between the start of December 2021 and the end of February 2022 with the same period two years previously. The consumer champion found that the price of 265 groceries shot up by more than a fifth over the last two years. This list of items included Kellogg’s Crunchy Nut Corn Flakes Cereal 500g which increased by 21.4% in price at Tesco. Asda’s Own Label Closed Cup Mushrooms 250g was 21.4% more expensive, and Cathedral City Extra Mature Cheddar 350g rose by 21.1% at Ocado. Across the 20 categories of groceries Which? looked at, fizzy drinks had the biggest average price rises, at 5.9%. This was followed by butters and spreads (4.9%), energy drinks (4.8%) and milk (4.6%). … [Read more...] about Foods which have soared in price by 20% in two years at supermarkets like Tesco and Asda
Price increase
Shoppers warned milk prices will soar even higher amid cost of living crisis
Shoppers have been warned that the price of milk will carry on rising as the cost of living crisis continues to grip struggling families. Arla Foods' chief commercial officer Peter Giortz-Carlson blamed high energy prices and the war in Ukraine for the increased costs. He said farmers are struggling with the price of packaging and feed for animals, which have risen by 40% - and said this will have to be passed on to customers. Mr Giortz-Carlson told Sky News that milk supplies could be impacted as farmers "cannot cover the costs" of keeping running their farms. He insisted Arla Foods' "main job here is to keep the products flowing, and make sure that there is a supply of food on the shelves." Arla Foods sells dairy products such as Lurpak butter, Cravendale milk and Skyr yoghurt to supermarkets across the country. The warning from the dairy producer comes after UK inflation surged to its highest level in 40 years. Are you worried about rising supermarket … [Read more...] about Shoppers warned milk prices will soar even higher amid cost of living crisis
Chip shops turn to air fryers as price of cooking oil soars
Chip shops are embracing air fryers as soaring oil costs force businesses to ditch deep-fat frying. Cooking oil prices have jumped by almost a fifth over the past year, driven higher by the war in Ukraine, with the sharpest increases in sunflower oil and vegetable oil, which are up 39pc since last spring. It has sparked concerns that many businesses which rely on oil, such as fish and chip shops, could struggle to stay afloat. Around half of the oil used by fish and chip shops had come from Ukraine, and they are now facing spiralling costs to keep the fryers on. Industry chiefs said restaurant bosses are scrambling to figure out how they can cut back the amount of oil they use for cooking, with some already starting to ditch deep-fried dishes. Ibrahim Dogus, chairman of industry group the British Takeaway Campaign, said takeaways were cutting items such as deep-fried brie, while others were looking for alternative ways of cooking other deep-fried items. He said: "I think … [Read more...] about Chip shops turn to air fryers as price of cooking oil soars
“We’re not going to see $2 or $3 gasoline even in the near future:” Analyst on the reason why gas prices are so high
There is a lot of finger-pointing about who's to blame for the high gasoline prices. Republicans blame the Biden administration while Democrats say the oil companies are price-gouging. Analyst Severin Borenstein of Berkeley's Energy Institute told CBS News the root of the problem is more complex. "Most of the increase has come from crude oil prices going up, and that's because world demand has been coming back quite strongly from the pandemic and supply hasn't caught up," he said. "Even before Russia attacked Ukraine, we were seeing the production of oil lagging. Producers in the United States are reporting they're having a hard time getting workers to come back to the oil fields. They're having supply chain problems with parts and equipment." Oil companies are benefiting from the spike in prices at the pump. In the first 3 months of the year, Chevron's profits rose 33% over the last three months of 2021. Shell's profits jumped 42% while Conoco Philips is up 43%, and British … [Read more...] about “We’re not going to see $2 or $3 gasoline even in the near future:” Analyst on the reason why gas prices are so high
Lord Plumb, president of the National Farmers’ Union through the 1970s who later led the European Parliament – obituary
Lord Plumb, who has died aged 97, was a plain-speaking Warwickshire farmer who became president of the National Farmers’ Union, Conservative leader in the European Parliament and, from 1987 to 1989, president of the Strasbourg assembly. Shrewd and personable, Henry Plumb showed great political skill channelling farmers’ anger over price reviews from Conservative and Labour governments alike, and trying to make a positive contribution to Europe despite noises off from Margaret Thatcher . During his nine-year presidency of the NFU, he developed the knack of calming hostile farmers by straightening their ties when they got too angry and too close – an option not available with the Prime Minister. Their relationship came under strain when she blocked his invitation to the Queen to visit Strasbourg; by 1989, when Plumb stated that political and monetary union were “inevitable”, she reckoned he had “gone native”. At Strasbourg, the concern was that Plumb – who had previously … [Read more...] about Lord Plumb, president of the National Farmers’ Union through the 1970s who later led the European Parliament – obituary
Elite groupthink is driving Britain into a nightmare of inflation, idleness and rage
To the experts, economists and other idiot savants who inexplicably failed to see this storm coming, thanks for nothing. All of their acronyms, PhDs, fancy modelling and algorithms have proved useless: Britain and the world are plunging into the most terrifying economic, political and cultural crisis of the past 40 years. A bunch of intelligent amateurs couldn’t have done much worse. Inflation is out of control , a terrible recession is looming and higher interest rates are about to send house prices tumbling and unemployment soaring: the politicians are still in denial, unlike the voters, but the reckoning, when it comes, will be traumatic. This is like the financial crisis all over again, only worse: for the second time in less than 15 years, the public has been betrayed by a failed technocratic orthodoxy, an over-educated yet staggeringly ignorant ruling class convinced that it can defy human nature as well as the laws of economics. Why do these people never learn? Why do … [Read more...] about Elite groupthink is driving Britain into a nightmare of inflation, idleness and rage
How YOU can get SpaceX Starlink in the UK – MAPPED
Elon Musk activates SpaceX Starlink service over Ukraine Sign up HERE for science breakthroughs in health, business and more that matter SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info SpaceX will send another of its Falcon 9 rockets above the Earth with 60 Starlink satellites carefully loaded on board. The broadband service has been fully operational for several years now and has plans to grow significantly by the middle of the decade. Britons who wish to sign up for the service have to pay a premium compared with other providers. So, how much exactly does it cost to get? Related articles NASA left baffled as Voyager spacecraft sends 'impossible data' Archaeologists stunned by ancient 'terrifying predators' in … [Read more...] about How YOU can get SpaceX Starlink in the UK – MAPPED
Staggering poll shows 95 percent of readers see ‘no need for mandatory heat pumps’ in UK
Heat pump grant is 'scheme for wealthy' says Andy Mayer Sign up HERE for science breakthroughs in health, business and more that matter SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info The Netherlands is preparing to ban the installation of new fossil fuel-centric heating systems by 2026 to reduce carbon emissions. Dutch Minister for Housing Hugo de Jonge said: “The urgency of sustainability is great, and the pace must be increased. It is also better for everyone’s wallet if we use less natural gas.” Related articles UK energy firms face £50m fine for failing to meet heat pump targets Energy crisis: EDF offers Britons major heat pump deal to slash costs However, Express.co.uk readers were against the UK … [Read more...] about Staggering poll shows 95 percent of readers see ‘no need for mandatory heat pumps’ in UK
Russia-Ukraine war takes center stage at Davos World Economic Forum
Lush green meadows have replaced the familiar white blanket of snow as the Davos cohort makes a comeback to the scenic Swiss Alpine town after a hiatus of more than two years. The annual gathering of the rich and powerful that was forced into the virtual world by the COVID-19 pandemic returns in its physical form at a time when a devasting war in Ukraine and coronavirus outbreaks in China are stoking recession fears amid soaring prices, fueling steep increases in global hunger and poverty. "The annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos this year will be the most timely and consequential annual meeting since the creation of the forum over 50 years ago,'' WEF founder Klaus Schwab told reporters ahead of the meeting. "The return of war, epidemics and the climate crisis, all those disruptive forces have derailed the global recovery," Schwab said. "Those issues must be confronted in Davos; the global food crisis, in particular, needs our immediate attention." More than … [Read more...] about Russia-Ukraine war takes center stage at Davos World Economic Forum
Senedd reform aim is to keep Labour in power, says UK minister
Published 2 hours ago Share close Share page Copy link About sharing The Welsh Labour government is seeking to "lock" itself in power "forever" with proposals to expand the Senedd, a UK government minister has said. Labour and Plaid Cymru's plan, set out earlier this month , would increase the number of Senedd members from 60 to 96. Wales Office minister and Tory Monmouth MP David TC Davies said the electoral system envisaged would "concentrate power in the hands of" party managers. He was addressing his party's Welsh conference in Newtown on Saturday. Q&A: How will this work? Bigger Senedd plans 'could freeze out Lib Dems' Under the plan, unveiled earlier in May, people would vote for parties, rather than candidates, with 96 Members of the Senedd (MSs) spread over 16 constituencies. The new system would use what is known as a "closed list system", where … [Read more...] about Senedd reform aim is to keep Labour in power, says UK minister