Inflation

[stevensfo]

Up a tad to 4% (unexpectedly).

CPI up from 3.9% to 4.0%

BUT RPI down a tad from 5.3% to 5.2%.

So as the statistician said, with his head in the oven and feet in the freezer, "Overall, no change!"


Steve

[Tedx]

With the rise in inflation be spurred by Tobacco and Alcohol, it has been suggested that it may have been a bit of seasonal profiteering by the retailers.

Hey it's Christmas. They're gonna buy this stuff regardless of the price!

[monabri]

A weak economy affected by a small increase in sin taxes.

[vand]

Not the direction everyone was hoping/expecting... FTSE tanks accordingly!

[Oggy]

Just wait until Labour win the GE. Inflation will rocket, then the FTSE will really dive...

[88V8]

With the rise in inflation be spurred by Tobacco and Alcohol, it has been suggested that it may have been a bit of seasonal profiteering by the retailers.

They have to make their money on something.

Actually, I heard that as monabri says, it was the govt's fault for putting up baccy taxes.
Did they not know that would increase inflation?

V8

[Steveam]

Just wait until Labour win the GE. Inflation will rocket, then the FTSE will really dive...

Why?

Best wishes, Steve

[scotview]

Oil and gas prices have fallen significantly and are flat lining which I find surprising given all the current instability.

Bet Sunak and Hunt (and Starmer for that matter) are crossing their fingers that the ME doesn't implode, then you will see real inflation. Energy is the real inflation driver not tax on fags.

[Adamski]

Another factor causing sticky inflation is that many have had pay rises way above inflation - public sector pay agreements, minimum wage rates, most benefits, and state pensions.

[Tedx]

From what I read elsewhere.....

CPI index in May 131.3; in Dec 132.2.

CPI over the 7 months is 0.7% (annualised 1.3%)

[Oggy]

Oggy wrote:
Just wait until Labour win the GE. Inflation will rocket, then the FTSE will really dive...


Why?

Best wishes, Stev

...because they will likely give in to various Unions regarding pay rises and everyone else will clamour for the same. Tories are nearly as bad though...

[servodude]

With the rise in inflation be spurred by Tobacco and Alcohol, it has been suggested that it may have been a bit of seasonal profiteering by the retailers.

They have to make their money on something.

Actually, I heard that as monabri says, it was the govt's fault for putting up baccy taxes.
Did they not know that would increase inflation?

V8

Looking in Tesco today the cost of beer is noticeably higher than it was during the Xmas offers - not sure they can be blamed (and it wasn't my fault either)

[GeoffF100]

Not the direction everyone was hoping/expecting... FTSE tanks accordingly!

Have a look at the other markets. VUKE -1.39%. VWRL -1.13%. So FTSE fell 0.26% more than the global market today. That is nothing to shout about.

[Oggy]

Looking in Tesco today the cost of beer is noticeably higher than it was during the Xmas offers - not sure they can be blamed (and it wasn't my fault either)

I think you will find it is not just the beer. I am convinced there is an awful lot of profiteering going on in supermarkets and elsewhere riding on alleged cost increases when really that is just a lame excuse to stick prices up far higher than inflation. Of course, no-one is pointing a gun at my head forcing me to buy these things, but when it is bread, milk, energy prices, and Lavazza coffee - especially the latter which is needed more than anything - then I do feel some sort of investigation is required to see if these costs are truly justified, especially when so many folk are genuinely struggling. If they are not justified, then the culprits should be named and shamed. Regulators should be far more pro-active. To me, most of them are simply window dressing.

[Nimrod103]

I am convinced there is an awful lot of profiteering going on in supermarkets

Will you invest on the basis of your view? Sainsbury's and Tesco's must be a real bargain.

Personally speaking, I have not been impressed with the return on my investment in both companies.

[Oggy]

Will you invest on the basis of your view? Sainsbury's and Tesco's must be a real bargain.

Personally speaking, I have not been impressed with the return on my investment in both companies.

No. I don't go in for single shares. High prices do not necessarily indicate high net profit/dividend either.

[Arborbridge]

Will you invest on the basis of your view? Sainsbury's and Tesco's must be a real bargain.

Personally speaking, I have not been impressed with the return on my investment in both companies.

No. I don't go in for single shares. High prices do not necessarily indicate high net profit/dividend either.

Hardly consistent with your idea they are profiteering, is it? Of course, they may be taking the opportunity to over charge now - let's suppose - but that is only to make up for the previous lean period. Seems fair, unless you like the idea that when someone's down you kick them again so they can't getup.

Another way of looking at it is that every dog has its day.

On your general point, I haven't been impressed with my return on either company even though they are very well and tightly run organisations. My conclusion is different from yours: it shows that they are not profiteering.

Arb.

[Oggy]

Hardly consistent with your idea they are profiteering, is it? Of course, they may be taking the opportunity to over charge now - let's suppose - but that is only to make up for the previous lean period. Seems fair, unless you like the idea that when someone's down you kick them again so they can't getup.

Another way of looking at it is that every dog has its day.

On your general point, I haven't been impressed with my return on either company even though they are very well and tightly run organisations. My conclusion is different from yours: it shows that they are not profiteering.

Perfectly consistent. They may be making a large gross profit. Not my point ref investing in them either.

[Arborbridge]

Hardly consistent with your idea they are profiteering, is it? Of course, they may be taking the opportunity to over charge now - let's suppose - but that is only to make up for the previous lean period. Seems fair, unless you like the idea that when someone's down you kick them again so they can't getup.

Another way of looking at it is that every dog has its day.

On your general point, I haven't been impressed with my return on either company even though they are very well and tightly run organisations. My conclusion is different from yours: it shows that they are not profiteering.

Perfectly consistent. They may be making a large gross profit. Not my point ref investing in them either.

OK. I guess you know what you mean

[stevensfo]

January CPI unchanged at 4%

But RPI continues to come down:

Nov 5.3%
Dec 5.2%
Jan 4.9%

https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/inflationandpriceindices


Steve