Here’s confirmation of this headline, from just one supplier to a retailer close to me: ‘Since our last increase in May 2018 we have been subject to a 10% increase in the cost of timber and hair (I know), a 25% increase in the cost of springs, foam and hessian and a 40% increase in the cost of stains and solvents, mostly in the last six months. We cannot therefore sustain our current prices, which will be increasing by 10% from 20th May’. They’ve obviously decided to absorb some of the extra costs. Inflation will only return if retailers don’t do the same.
“UK retail sales spooked by Brexit, as German factory orders slide – as it happened”
Last week I told you about the difficulties I’d experienced trying to park to drop off stuff to charity shops, a reflection the woes of our high streets. This provoked the biggest reaction I’ve had since I inadvertently misspelt the name of a Somerset town (yes,...