European shares edged up on Monday, as heavyweight miners rose on strong metals prices and defensive drugmakers and tobacco firms gained on concerns over the impact of rising inflation on growth prospects. Gains, however, were kept in check by falls on the German DAX index .GDAXI, as sentiment was hit by data showing a drop in German manufacturing purchasing managers index (PMI) in January, despite strong numbers from the services sector. [ID:nS ... Jump to full article >>

Petrol up 2.1p a litre between Sept and October Beer, wine and tobacco now more expensive Rates ‘to stay on hold’ despite inflation pressure Britons were hit with another above-target hike in the cost of living last month as sharp rises in fuel prices sent inflation to 3.2 per cent, official figures revealed today. The increase in the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) – up from 3.1 per cent in September – has forced Bank ... Jump to full article >>

Private sector employers are coming under increasing pressure to offer inflation-busting pay rises to staff as the economy picks up, new figures have shown. However, one in 10 companies are still pushing through pay freezes and the typical pay rise in the private sector was 2pc in the three months to May, the latest analysis by Income Data Services (IDS) has revealed. Ken Mulkearn, editor of the IDS pay report, said that retail price inflation, ... Jump to full article >>

Bank governor forced to write to new Chancellor Rising cost of food places most pressure on prices inflation figures make gloomy reading for savers Inflation likely to fall back to its 2% target within a year The economic nightmare confronting the new coalition government got worse today after inflation rose to a 17-month high in April – placing further pressure on interest rates. The rise triggers an open letter from Bank of England gov ... Jump to full article >>