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Tesco ups meal deal price by 25p, third hike in three years![\"Mabel](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Mabel_banfield-Nwachi.png\")
Mabel Banfield-Nwachi<\/p>\n
Tesco has put up the price of its meal deal by 25p, its third increase since 2022, in a sign of the times as food prices in the UK race higher again.<\/p>\n
The meal deal now costs \u00a33.85 for Clubcard holders, increasing from \u00a33.60. Customers who do not have a Tesco loyalty card will find themselves shelling out \u00a34.25, up from \u00a34. The new rate will be charged from 21 August.<\/p>\n
It comes as the latest inflation figures show the price of food and non-alcoholic beverages rose 4.9% year on year in July<\/a>, an increase from 4.5% in the 12 months to June. For retailers, this often means passing on the soaring cost of ingredients to consumers.<\/p>\n A summer of heatwaves and droughts in parts of Spain, Italy and Portugal, where the UK sources a lot of its fresh fruit and vegetables, have pushed up prices this summer, at a time when they would usually fall. Beef, orange juice, coffee and chocolate were among the worst-hit products.<\/p>\n A shopper passes Tesco Clubcard signage at a Tesco Extra supermarket in Cheshunt, Britain, March 25. Photograph: Toby Melville\/Reuters<\/p>\n Some shoppers have described the price hike as \u201ctruly devastating\u201d. On X, one user wrote: \u201cDiscovering that a Tesco meal deal will be \u00a33.85 *with* a Clubcard from Thursday was truly devastating.<\/p>\n Another questioned whether it can still be called a \u201cdeal\u201d. \u201cTesco meal deal now \u00a34 not sure of the deal part,\u201d they wrote.<\/p>\n Tesco\u2019s sandwich, snack and drink deal had cost \u00a33 for 10 years before prices jumped in October 2022.<\/p>\n However, Tesco is not the first of the major retailers to frustrate customers after upping the cost of it\u2019s meal deal. In June, Sainsbury\u2019s increased the price of it\u2019s standard offering by 5%, going from \u00a33.75 to \u00a33.95.<\/p>\n It was the second time it had increased the price in under a year, after raising the price by 25p in July 2024.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>US and EU agree details on trade deal; US official sees car tariff relief ‘in weeks’<\/p>\n The US and the European Union have locked in a framework trade deal that was reached last month. It includes a 15% US tariff on most imported goods from the EU, including cars, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors and lumber.<\/p>\n In a 3 1\/2 page joint statement, the two sides listed the commitments made, including the EU\u2019s pledge remove tariffs on all US industrial goods and to provide preferential market access for a wide range of US seafood and agricultural products.<\/p>\n Washington has pledged to reduce the current 27.5% US tariffs on cars and car components \u2013 a huge burden for European carmakers \u2013 once Brussels introduces legislation needed to enact the promised tariff reductions on US goods.<\/p>\n The joint statement also noted the EU\u2019s intention to source $750bn in US liquefied natural gas, oil and nuclear energy, and an additional $40bn of US-made artificial intelligence chips. It included the plan for EU companies to invest an additional $600bn across US strategic sectors through 2028.<\/p>\n A senior US administration official told Reuters that Euroepan carmakers could see the current 27.5% tariff reduced within \u201chopefully weeks\u201d.<\/p>\n As soon as they\u2019re able to introduce that legislation \u2013 and I don\u2019t mean pass it and fully implement it, but really introduce it \u2013 then we will be in a position to provide that relief. And I will say that both sides are ver interested in moving quickly.<\/p>\n Donald Trump and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen announced the deal on 27 July at the US president\u2019s luxury golf course in Scotland after an hour-long meeting, and months of negotiations between officials.<\/p>\n At the time, the French prime minister, Fran\u00e7ois Bayrou, said the EU had capitulated to Trump\u2019s threats of ever-increasing tariffs, as he labelled the framework deal struck in Scotland as a \u201cdark day\u201d for the EU<\/a>.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.13 EDT<\/p>\n WH Smith shares slide 40% after broker downgrade<\/p>\n The sell-off has intensified after WH Smith\u2019s \u00a330m accounting blunder and profit downgrade, and its shares are now down by 40%, at 668.5p.<\/p>\n They slumped as much as 40.9% to 656p, their lowest level since March 2020.<\/p>\n The broker Peel Hunt has cut its recommendation on the stock to \u2018hold\u2019 from \u2018add\u2019, and slashed its target share price to 755p from 1400p (\u00a314).<\/p>\n The retail analyst Nick Bubb said the profit warning had \u201cgone down like a lead balloon with investors\u201d, adding that it was \u201creviving unhappy memories of the Tesco accounting scandal a few years back\u201d.<\/p>\n In 2014, Tesco admitted it had overstated profits by \u00a3326m because it had incorrectly booked payments from suppliers relating to issues such as marketing costs or reaching sales targets. The UK\u2019s biggest retailer took years to recover<\/a> from the black hole in its accounts.<\/p>\n There is no suggestion WH Smith\u2019s accounting mistake relates to the same issues that hit the supermarket chain.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.11 EDT<\/p>\n Why radical tax reform may be only way for Reeves to balance the books<\/p>\n Here\u2019s some analysis of today\u2019s UK public finance figures:<\/p>\n Despite a good month for the public finances<\/a>, the Treasury won\u2019t be putting in any champagne orders.<\/p>\n Higher self-assessment tax receipts and an increase in national insurance payments by employers filled the government\u2019s coffers by more than expected in July. The result was that Rachel Reeves\u2019s spending deficit fell to \u00a31.1bn, down by \u00a32.3bn from the same month a year earlier.<\/p>\n That would be cheery news in normal circumstances, but hemmed in by tight fiscal rules<\/a>, jittery financial markets and a restless public, the chancellor knows not to be complacent.<\/p>\n There is every likelihood that the Office for Budget Responsibility<\/a> (OBR) will downgrade its outlook for economic growth when Reeves presents her autumn budget, forcing the government to take further action to balance the books.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Waitrose boss James Bailey to leave after just over 5 years James Bailey, the boss of Waitrose, is to exit the upmarket supermarket next month after just over five years. His departure comes a year after the arrival of former Tesco executive Jason Tarry as chairman of the grocer\u2019s parent company the John Lewis Partnership.<\/p>\n Tarry said:<\/p>\n James has done an outstanding job, overseeing significant transformation and growth during a period of change. He\u2019s a great colleague and has been a highly valued member of the executive team.<\/p>\n We will be sad to see James go but understand and respect his decision to step down after five and a half years at the helm. James will leave Waitrose in a much stronger position and I know will be missed by everyone.<\/p>\n James Bailey, the departing CEO of Waitrosee in the newly reopened flagship Waitrose store on the Finchley Road. Photograph: Sarah Lee\/The Guardian<\/p>\n Tina Mitchell, the retail director for Waitrose will step in to replace Bailey on an interim basis from the end of September while the company looks to recruit a permanent replacement.<\/p>\n Bailey said:<\/p>\n I\u2019m very proud of everything we\u2019ve achieved together; it\u2019s been a lot of hard work but very rewarding and I\u2019m so happy now to see the business thriving.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a005.43 EDT<\/p>\n Strongest rise in UK business activity in a year \u2013 PMI<\/p>\n More good news: the UK\u2019s business activity posted its biggest growth in a year this month, led by a solid upturn in the service sector, according to a closely-watched survey.<\/p>\n The \u2018flash\u2019 reading from the S&P Global PMI survey showed improvement across the private sector, despite employment remaining a weak spot, with companies cutting hiring for an eleventh month.<\/p>\n The headline index rose to 53.0 in August from 51.5 in July, indicating faster expansion in business activity.<\/p>\n Input cost inflation edged up to its highest since May.<\/p>\n Chris Williamson, chief business economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence,<\/p>\n The flash UK PMI survey for August indicated that the pace of economic growth has continued to accelerate over the summer after a sluggish spring, the rate of expansion now at a one-year high. The services sector has led the expansion, but manufacturing also showed further signs of stabilising.<\/p>\n He cautioned that order books show that demand remains \u201cuneven and fragile\u201d.<\/p>\n Companies report concerns over the impact of recent government policy changes, as well as unease emanating from broader geopolitical uncertainty. Goods exports are still falling especially sharply.<\/p>\n Payroll numbers also continue to be cut at an aggressive rate by historical standards as firms cite weak order books and concerns over rising staff costs due to the policies announced in the autumn Budget, which also contributed to persistent inflation pressures.<\/p>\n While the rise in business activity signalled by the PMI alongside the uplift in inflation to 3.8% in July lower the chances of further rate cuts this year, more data are required to assess both the sustainability of robust economic growth as well as the stickiness of the upturn in price pressures. Among a divided Bank of England rate setting committee, the perceived need for any future rate cuts will be very much data dependent.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>WH Smith shares fall as much as 36%, wiping \u00a3500m off its market value WH Smith shares have fallen as much as 36%, wiping \u00a3500m off the stationery to sweets retailer\u2019s market value.<\/p>\n It cut its financial forecasts and launched an independent review after an accounting blunder led the retailer to overstate profits by \u00a330m.<\/p>\n The group discovered the mistake, which related to its North American business, while preparing its year-end results. The travel retailer said it was \u201clargely\u201d because it had logged some of its income too early.<\/p>\n This is related to arrangements it has with suppliers, which offer rebates if the retailer hits sales targets on certain items. However, it is understood that those rebates should have been logged in accounts for the next financial year rather than for the 12 months to 31 August. The problem is believed to be contained to the North American business.<\/p>\n The drop in WH Smith\u2019s shares left its value below \u00a3900m on Thursday morning, down from \u00a31.4bn at the market close on Wednesday.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Eurozone business activity strengthens as new orders rise for first time in 15 months<\/p>\n Things are also looking up in the eurozone, where new orders increased for the first time in 15 months in August, helping lift business activity.<\/p>\n Companies also increased their staffing levels for the sixth month running. Meanwhile, inflationary pressures strengthened, with both input costs and output prices rising at sharper rates in August.<\/p>\n However, foreign orders in the manufacturing sector have been affected by Donald Trump\u2019s trade policy.<\/p>\n The flash composite headline index for the eurozone from Hamburg Commercial Bank rose to 51.1 from 50.9 in July, indicating the fastest expansion in business activity since June 2024. This was driven by the manufacturing sector, where production increased at the fastest pace in almost three-and-a-half years. Meanwhile, services business activity rose for the third month running, albeit only slightly and to a smaller degree than in July.<\/p>\n Cyrus de la Rubia, chief economist at Hamburg Commercial Bank, said:<\/p>\n Things are getting better. Economic activity has picked up in both manufacturing and services. Overall, we\u2019ve seen a slight acceleration in growth over the past three months. Despite headwinds like US tariffs and general uncertainty, businesses across the eurozone seem to be coping reasonably well. The EU Single Market is likely playing a helpful role here, especially since most export and tourism revenues are generated within the EU.<\/p>\n The European Central Bank might wince a little at the rising cost pressures in the services sector. After all, it\u2019s banking on slower wage growth to help bring inflation down in this crucial part of the economy. That said, there\u2019s a bit of relief in the fact that inflation in service-sector selling prices has remained more or less steady.<\/p>\n Manufacturing output has increased for six straight months, with Germany leading the charge. France, which had been a drag in June and July, showed signs of stabilising in August. The same goes for services: France\u2019s recession seems to be tapering off, while Germany is showing growth even if only marginal.<\/p>\n However, US trade policy is leaving its mark, he noted.<\/p>\n Foreign orders in the eurozone manufacturing sector have declined for the second month in a row. Germany had been holding up well, possibly due to pre-emptive purchases from the US, but now it\u2019s also seeing a drop in orders. France has climbed out of the deep hole of falling foreign demand over the last months, but incoming orders are still on the decline.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>German business activity rises to five-month high<\/p>\n In Germany, Europe\u2019s biggest economy, business activity improved for a third month, with the pace of growth the fastest since March, but remained modest.<\/p>\n The flash Germany composite PMI output index from Hamburg Commercial Bank came in at 50.9 in August, up slightly from 50.6 in July.<\/p>\n Solid and faster production growth in the manufacturing sector (index at 52.6), which was supported by an increase in new orders at factories, compared with near-stagnant levels of activity in the service sector (index at 50.1).<\/p>\n Employment fell modestly in August, extending a period of declines that stretches back to June last year. The rate at which workforce numbers fell was faster than the month before, reflecting deeper job cuts in the goods-producing sector. This masked a slight pick-up in the pace of hiring in the service sector, where employment levels have risen continuously on a monthly basis since the start of the year.<\/p>\n After reaching a six-month high in July, German business expectations retreated somewhat in August, although firms generally remained optimistic about the year-ahead outlook.<\/p>\n Labour minister B\u00e4rbel Bas, SPD Cologne mayor candidate Torsten Burmester, and Leybold manager Mark Gabriel visit the factory at Leybold headquarters in Cologne, Germany, on August 12. Photograph: Ying Tang\/NurPhoto\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n Cyrus de la Rubia, chief economist at Hamburg Commercial Bank, said: \u201c<\/p>\n Germany\u2019s economy has been growing throughout the summer so far, and the pace of expansion has even picked up slightly. While we\u2019re talking about modest gains here, this trend signals resilience \u2013 considering the headwinds like US tariffs, geopolitical uncertainty, and relatively high long-term interest rates.<\/p>\n The recovery is being driven primarily by the manufacturing sector, where output has now increased for six consecutive months, with the latest data showing a noticeable uptick. Particularly encouraging is the surge in new orders, which saw their strongest growth since March 2022. That said, a certain degree of caution remains among businesses. Stocks of inputs continue to decline sharply, which aligns with reduced purchasing activity. This suggests companies are still playing it safe.<\/p>\n He said job cuts in manufacturing are likely part of a broader effort to boost productivity and sharpen competitiveness. At least in the short term, this seems to be working \u2013 output has risen significantly.<\/p>\n Input prices in manufacturing have fallen, helped by lower oil prices and a relatively strong euro. On the sales side, manufacturers have passed on some of these cost savings to their customers. In contrast, the services sector saw the opposite trend in August: costs rose more sharply \u2013 likely due to rising wages \u2013 and companies had enough pricing power to pass parts of those increases on to their clients.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>‘French economy close to stabilisation in August’<\/p>\n After a long period of contraction in France, the eurozone\u2019s second-largest economy, there are signs of stabilising business conditions, with hiring picking up.<\/p>\n August\u2019s \u2018flash\u2019 purchasing managers\u2019 index survey from Hamburg Commercial Bank showed French private sector output was broadly unchanged on the month, as the headline index edged higher towards the 50 no change, rising from July\u2019s 48.6 to 49.8 this month \u2013 the highest reading in a year.<\/p>\n Both manufacturers and service providers posted small declines on the month.<\/p>\n For the first time since November, employment levels increased, with the rate of job creation at a 16-month high. The pick-up in hiring came despite a pessimistic 12-month outlook and continued weak demand.<\/p>\n A cafe in Paris. Photograph: Olympia de Maismont\/AFP via Getty Images<\/p>\n Jonas Feldhusen, junior economist at Hamburg Commercial Bank, said there was still no clear turning point despite the slight improvement in overall business activity.<\/p>\n On a more positive note, both the manufacturing and services sectors saw less pronounced contractions, which could be interpreted with cautious optimism as an early sign of stabilisation.<\/p>\n The services sector reflects the broader economic picture. Business activity continues to lack growth momentum. The current order situation, especially the sharp deterioration in foreign demand during August, offers little hope for a near-term recovery. Service providers remain cautious in their expectations. Price dynamics have remained relatively stable, but input costs are rising faster than output prices, which suggests that margins may come under pressure.<\/p>\n France\u2019s manufacturing sector continues to feel the strain. Long-standing challenges like weakening international competitiveness and the rise of protectionist policies are shaping a difficult environment. Global supply chains are probably still recalibrating to new tariff regimes, and that\u2019s possibly a reason for noticeably longer delivery times. While the sharp and rapid drop in order volumes seen last month wasn\u2019t repeated in August, the mood among producers has hardly improved.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>WH Smith shares slump 30% after profit downgrade<\/p>\n Shares in WH Smith have plummeted by more than 30% after the travel retailer cut its profit forecast.<\/p>\n The company now expects pre-tax profit for the year to 31 August to be around \u00a3110m. In April, it was still confident of hitting market expectations of \u00a3182.6m.<\/p>\n The share price fell by nearly 31% to 769p, making it the top loser on the FTSE mid-cap index and taking the company\u2019s market value below \u00a31bn, to around \u00a3900m.<\/p>\n WH Smith said a financial review had found an overstatement of \u00a330m of expected headline trading profit in North America, and blamed the accelerated recognition of supplier income in the region. North America profits are now estimated to be \u00a325m, rather than \u00a355m.<\/p>\n The group has instructed the accounting firm Deloitte to carry out an \u201cindependent and comprehensive review\u201d.<\/p>\n WH Smith, Marylebone station, London. Photograph: Linda Nylind\/The Guardian<\/p>\n The 230-year-old British business has just sold its highstreet stores to the investment company Modella Capital, but was forced to cut the sale price by \u00a312m to around \u00a340m after trading at the chain deteriorated.<\/p>\n While the high street business, which employs about 5,000 people, will be rebranded as TGJones<\/a>, WH Smith is retaining its brand for its travel shops in railway stations, airports and hospitals.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a004.08 EDT<\/p>\n Gender pension gap equates to \u00a37,600 a year, say union leaders<\/p>\n On the pension theme\u2026 Retired women in the UK in effect go four months of the year without a pension when their income is compared with that of men, union leaders have warned.<\/p>\n The TUC<\/a> said the income gap between men and women in retirement was 36.5%, equivalent to a shortfall of \u00a37,600 a year on average.<\/p>\n As a percentage this was more than double the gender pay gap, which measures the difference in average earnings from work; it stands at 13.1%.<\/p>\n The union organisation said this meant that retired women effectively stopped receiving a pension from 21 August when compared with men, creating a four-month gap.<\/p>\n Paul Nowak, the general secretary of the TUC, said the income gap between men and women in retirement should be central to the inquiry by the pensions commission, which the government launched last month<\/a>.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n The chancellor will still have to raise taxes in October despite borrowing matching official forecasts, summed up Elliott Jordan-Doak, senior UK economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics. He is predicting \u201csin\u201d and \u201cstealth\u201d tax hikes, duty increases and a pensions tax raid.<\/p>\n The big picture remains that the public finances are in chronically weak condition. The chancellor faces surging gilt yields and a likely productivity downgrade from the OBR in the October forecast round.<\/p>\n The litany of policy uturns has only compounded the government\u2019s fiscal woes. We think the chancellor will need to resort to \u2019sin\u2019 and \u2019stealth\u2019 tax hikes, duty increases, and a pensions tax raid in order to meet her fiscal rules if she wants to meet her pledge of keeping headline tax rates unchanged.<\/p>\n We expect the bulk of those tax hikes to be backloaded towards the end of the forecast period, minimising any short-term growth implications. But that will buy the Chancellor only precious little time. The public finances are unsustainable in the long-run and delaying action now increases the risks of needing to make sharper adjustments in the future, which would be more disruptive for economic activity.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a002.51 EDT<\/p>\n Nabil Taleb, economist at PwC UK, echoed those comments.<\/p>\n Although tax receipts rose in July, the chancellor remains under pressure as she tries to balance weak growth with the fiscal rules she has committed to. While the government\u2019s manifesto promises to maintain investment and shield working people from tax hikes, analysis from NIESR suggests up to \u00a340bn in additional revenue may be needed to restore headroom and maintain investor confidence in the UK\u2019s public finances.<\/p>\n As the chancellor prepares for the autumn budget, the challenge will be finding creative sources of revenue while treading carefully around the impact on living standards.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n However, the outlook has not improved much, said Alex Kerr, UK economist at Capital Economics<\/a>.<\/p>\n Ultimately, today\u2019s release does little to brighten the gloomy outlook ahead of the budget later this year. The government\u2019s u-turns on spending cuts and potential upward revisions to the office for Budget Responsibility\u2019s borrowing forecasts mean the chancellor may need to raise \u00a317-27bn at the Autumn Budget to maintain the \u00a39.9bn of headroom against her fiscal mandate.<\/p>\n And given that she is struggling to stick to existing spending plans and we doubt the gilt market will tolerate significant increases in borrowing, most of that will have to be funded by tax rises.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n The ONS said central government tax receipts increased by \u00a314.8bn to \u00a3264.7bn in the financial year so far.<\/p>\n This included increases of \u00a37.7bn in income tax, \u00a33.2bn in VAT and \u00a32.5bn in corporation tax.<\/p>\n Compulsory social contributions increased by \u00a39.5bn to \u00a363.8bn, after changes to the rate of national insurance contributions paid by employers came into effect on 6 April.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Introduction: UK government borrowing falls to \u00a31.1bn in July, despite third-highest year-to-date deficit on record<\/p>\n Good morning, and welcome to our rolling coverage of business, the financial markets and the world economy.<\/p>\n The UK government borrowed \u00a31.1bn last month, the lowest July borrowing for three years, in a boost to the chancellor ahead of her autumn budget.<\/p>\n The figure was \u00a32.3bn lower than a year earlier, the Office for National Statistics said. It was also below economists\u2019 forecasts.<\/p>\n Income tax receipts via self assessment totalled \u00a315.5bn, \u00a32.7bn more than in July 2024.<\/p>\n So far this financial year, from April to July, borrowing totalled \u00a360bn, \u00a36.7bn higher than in the same period last year, and the third-highest borrowing for the period since records began, after those of 2020 and 2021. It is in line with the Office for Budget Responsibility\u2019s forecast of \u00a359.9bn for that period.<\/p>\n Darren Jones, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, said:<\/p>\n We\u2019re investing in our public services, and modernising the state, to improve outcomes and reduce costs in the medium term.<\/p>\n Far too much taxpayer money is spent on interest payments for the longstanding national debt. That\u2019s why we\u2019re driving down government borrowing over the course of the parliament \u2013 so working people don\u2019t have to foot the bill and we can invest in better schools, hospitals, and services for working families.<\/p>\n Commenting on today\u2019s public sector finances figures for July 2025, ONS Deputy Director for Public Sector Finances Rob Doody said: (quote 1 of 2) pic.twitter.com\/tIS49p7PAA<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Sarah](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Sarah_Butler_Next_Gen.png\")
Sarah Butler<\/p>\n![\"Kalyeena](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Kalyeena_Makortoff,_L.png\")
Kalyeena Makortoff<\/p>\n