Supermarkets Urged to Limit Food Prices by Government
The Treasury may ease packaging and healthy-food rules if supermarkets voluntarily cap prices on eggs, bread and milk, the BBC understands.
- The Treasury is urging Supermarkets to voluntarily cap prices on essential groceries such as eggs, bread, and milk in exchange for regulatory relief, including easing packaging policies.
- Chancellor Rachel Reeves is preparing cost-of-living measures following data showing food inflation rose to 3.7% in April, while overall inflation stood at 3.3% in March.
- Helen Dickinson, BRC chief executive, dismissed the policy as "1970s style price controls," while one retailer called the idea "crazy" and the act of a "desperate" government.
- Higher energy and commodity costs from the Middle East conflict, particularly Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, are driving inflation, though British grocery prices remain most affordable in Western Europe.
- Proposals follow the Scottish National Party pledging similar price caps in Scotland last month, while some industry groups warn food price rises could hit nearly 10% by year-end.
52 Articles
52 Articles
Bad Ideas Never Die
Price controls are in the Hall of Fame of bad ideas. They have an unbroken record of failure, stretching back literally thousands of years. And yet, they remain alluring to people with no knowledge of either history or economics, or–probably more relevant–to failing governments. There was a time when Britain’s government was known for a certain level of financial sophistication. No longer: [British Chancellor] Rachel Reeves is pressuring superma…
Supermarkets Revolt Over Labour Price Control Plans
UK supermarket bosses are up in arms over the government’s plan to cap prices on key groceries. Plus: Paul Holden explains what Starmer’s inner circle knew about the now-infamous Labour Together investigation, and we speak to Sebastian Mallaby, author of ‘The Infinity Machine’, a biography of Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis. With Michael Walker, Aaron Bastani & James Meadway.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 53% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
