Money Moves

Communities in the UK are experiencing the impact of rising council debts, as a recent BBC study reveals increasing sales of publicly owned properties by local governments. The combined debt of councils has reached £122 billion, prompting many to sell assets such as schools, care homes, gyms, and community centres to manage financial strains. Councils […]

Data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) indicates that food inflation is on the rise, with a notable increase in prices for essential items like eggs and butter. The inflation rate for food reached 4.2% in August, up from 4% in July, marking the highest level since February 2024. The overall shop price inflation rose

Marks & Spencer (M&S) has announced the launch of a secondhand clothing store on eBay, aiming to address rising demand for pre-owned apparel. This initiative seeks to find new homes for “old favourites” while reinforcing the retailer’s commitment to sustainability. Over the past decade, M&S has collected 36.5 million secondhand garments as part of its

In Tiruppur, a key textile export hub in India, garment manufacturing has slowed dramatically as manufacturers face the impending impact of a steep 50% tariff on their exports to the United States. This tariff is part of a broader trade conflict that has raised concerns for industries reliant on U.S. sales. Currently, many factories, which

Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence startup, xAI, has initiated legal action against OpenAI and Apple, alleging anticompetitive behavior. Filed in a Texas court, the lawsuit claims a “conspiracy to monopolize” the smartphone and generative AI chatbot markets. Earlier this month, Musk threatened legal action against Apple and OpenAI, asserting that Apple’s app store practices were hindering

Two companies backed by Elon Musk, X and xAI, have filed a lawsuit against Apple and OpenAI in the United States, alleging that the two firms have engaged in illegal collaboration to hinder competition. The plaintiffs claim that Apple’s integration of OpenAI’s chatbot into its smartphone operating systems constitutes an exclusive agreement that violates competition

Research indicates that the UK’s gender pay gap has been underestimated for over two decades, calling into question the data quality used for critical pay decisions. This study, published in the British Journal of Industrial Relations, asserts that since 2004, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has failed to adequately account for the prevalence of

Keurig Dr Pepper, a major US beverage company, has announced its decision to acquire Dutch coffee company JDE Peet’s for €15.7 billion (£13.6 billion, $18.4 billion). This acquisition marks the largest in Europe in over two years. Post-merger, the companies plan to separate into two publicly traded entities: one will concentrate on coffee brands, including

A recent experience at a grocery store has raised questions about the shopping environment. While shopping for food, shoppers noticed that some aspects of the experience felt unusual. There were reports of unexpected changes in product availability, store organization, and customer service. Some patrons experienced difficulty finding certain items, while others expressed confusion over new

Keurig Dr Pepper has announced plans to acquire JDE Peet’s, the parent company of Peet’s Coffee, Douwe Egberts, and Kenco, in a deal valued at $18 billion. Following this acquisition, the company will undergo a split, forming two independent entities: one focused on coffee products and the other on cold beverages, such as Snapple, Dr