The UK's public EV charger installation rate has slowed to 10% in H1 2026, down from over 40% in 2024. This slowdown, driven by cost pressures and uncertainty over government sales targets like the ZEV mandate, threatens the 2030 goal of 300,000 chargers.
AO World is outsourcing up to 200 UK call centre roles to South Africa, citing rising labour costs, while reporting a 145% jump in pre-tax profits to £50.5m. The company expects to save £4m annually from the move, with about 150 roles already shifted.
AO World is outsourcing up to 200 UK call centre roles to South Africa, citing rising labour costs and inflationary pressures. The online electrical goods seller reported a 145% jump in pre-tax profits to £50.5m and is giving £20m to shareholders.
Theaters in Brandenburg are facing significant financial pressure due to inflation, rising energy costs, and wage increases. Several institutions, including the Hans Otto Theater Potsdam, Staatstheater Cottbus, and Kleist Forum, are planning to raise ticket prices for the 2026/2027 season to offset these costs. The Neue Bühne Senftenberg, while not planning price increases, fears substantial cuts due to rising personnel expenses.
UK companies are increasingly hiring temporary workers over permanent staff due to economic uncertainty, higher costs, and political turbulence, leading to a 10-month low in permanent recruitment and modest salary growth.
Tata Steel CEO TV Narendran anticipates a stronger Q1 FY27 with improved prices in India, UK, and Netherlands, despite rising input costs from the West Asia crisis. India's volume growth and UK policy support are key drivers.
Next is planning "moderate" price increases this month as a closely-watched survey of companies reports the fastest rise in cost pressures for three-and-a-half years.
The Real Greek, with 28 UK outlets, faces potential closure after parent company The Fulham Shore announced plans to appoint administrators. Owner Toridoll, a Japanese restaurant group, said high inflation, rising energy and food prices, and increased labour costs from minimum wage rises had made the business unsustainable. The Real Greek has suffered more than the Franco Manca pizza chain, also owned by The Fulham Shore, from the deteriorating economic environment.
UK exports to Middle East fell 20% year-on-year in March, with certificates of origin dropping from 15,437 to 12,360. The British Chambers of Commerce reports firms face less reliable trade routes, rising costs and geopolitical risks, with the Strait of Hormuz badly disrupted. The CBI also shows UK companies increasingly pessimistic about the economic outlook.
UK consumer confidence fell to its lowest level since October 2023 in April, with multiple surveys blaming the US-Israeli war on Iran for surging cost pressures. The GfK consumer confidence index dropped four points to -25, while the S&P Global PMI recorded the biggest jump in business costs since 1996. Over a quarter of firms expect to raise prices next month - the highest since January 2023 - with energy costs cited by more than a third as a key driver. Economists warn UK inflation is on track to rise sharply, potentially forcing the Bank of England to raise interest rates.
