cost of living

"Now it's even more difficult to encourage households to part with their dwindling cash." – Hargreaves Lansdown analyst Sophie Lund-Yates. Photo shows an Oxford Street shop window. Photo: Hollie Adams / AFP

UK retail sales dip as consumers shun high street

Sales by volume fell 0.9% last month. Food sales hit particularly hard by rampant inflation

April 21, 2023| AFP
When compared to March 2022, Malta’s inflation was up by 2.6 per cent while inflation in the Eurozone fell by 0.5 per cent. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

Rising prices have pushed COLA up to €13 a week so far

Malta’s inflation higher than eurozone average

April 21, 2023| Matthew Xuereb
Britain's annual consumer price index inflation rate slowed in March but held above 10% on soaring food prices. Photo shows a customer buying pasta at a Sainsbury's supermarket in London. Photo: Tolga Akmen / AFP

World stock markets retreat, with eyes on central banks

Traders in defensive mode as the debate goes on whether the Fed is at the top of its hiking cycle

April 19, 2023| AFP
Food prices led to the largest upward impact. Photo: Shutterstock

Inflation as measured by the HICP slightly higher in March than in February

Largest upward impact measured in food sector

April 19, 2023| Times of Malta
Food prices were flat in the quarter, with prices for meats, poultry and fish falling, while cereals, bakery products and nonalcoholic beverages climbed. Photo shows prices in a supermarket in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images/AFP

US consumer inflation slows to 5% in March year-over-year

Rate is smallest 12-month increase since May 2021

April 12, 2023| AFP
Bananas are displayed in a low-price stall, next to a label reading "blocked price" at a Carrefour hypermarket in France. Photo: AFP

World food prices down by a fifth on 2022

Prices have fallen 20.5% since March last year

April 7, 2023| AFP
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hopes to extend his rule into a third decade in the May 14 election. Photo: Adem Altan / AFP

Turkey's inflation slows to 50% ahead of election

Official rate slows from 55.2% in February. Unofficial March rate estimated to be 112.5%

April 3, 2023| AFP
Food and drink prices rose by 15.4% in March, compared with 15% the previous month. Photo shows a customer grabbing a bag of pasta in a low-price stall at a Carrefour hypermarket in Villeneuve-la-Garenne, Paris. Photo: Thomas Samson / AFP

Eurozone inflation slows sharply in March as energy costs drop

Consumer prices rise 6.9% in March, down from 8.5% in February

March 31, 2023| AFP
A trader at the New York Stock Exchange. The forecast that Fed rates will end the year just above 4% instead of well above 5% has helped push up global equities, which had been under pressure in February and March. Photo: Spencer Platt / Images via AFP

European equities extend gains on inflation slowdown

Inflation in eurozone slows sharply to 6.9% in March from 8.5% in February

March 31, 2023| AFP
Cost of living, traffic and over-construction ranked as some of Malta's biggest problems.

Cost of living tops Malta’s concerns

Other concerns include corruption, traffic and over-construction

March 31, 2023| Neville Borg
More than two-thirds of respondents to the survey see inflation remaining above 4% at the end of this year. Photo: Spencer Platt / Getty Images North America / AFP

Economists expect US recession, above-target inflation this year

Survey of 217 NABE members was conducted between March 2 and 10

March 27, 2023| AFP
Labour managed the economy ‘remarkably’ well in the last year but must open its eyes to people’s frustrations, government insiders admit. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

A government in labour, a year after the election

The achievements and the problems of Abela's first year this legislature

March 27, 2023| Mark Laurence Zammit
Food prices continue to add to price pressures for households. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

Inflation rose to 7 per cent in February

Annual rate resumes its upward trend after a reprieve in January

March 17, 2023| Times of Malta
Rising inflation means your hard-earned money is worth less. Photo: Shutterstock

How would an increase in interest rates affect you?

Local banks are under pressure to raise deposit and loan rates. Here's why.

March 15, 2023| Steve Stivala and Melissa Grima
The consumer price index in February rose 6%, below January figure but still well above 2% goal. Photo: Stefani Reynolds / AFP

US consumer inflation still elevated but Fed under stress

US banks’ crash complicates central bank’s battle to fight inflation through rate hikes

March 14, 2023| AFP
UK hospital doctors on Monday began a three-day strike over pay at the start of a week that will also see teachers, train staff and civil servants walk out, in industrial action timed to coincide with the budget. Photo: Carlos Jasso / AFP

UK unemployment at historic low but inflation hits wages

Finance minister Jeremy Hunt set to unveil his latest budget on Wednesday

March 14, 2023| AFP
Photo: Shutterstock.com

The headache of rising interest rates − Lawrence Zammit

It's the elephant in the room. How will banks and regulators act?

March 11, 2023| Lawrence Zammit
Food and drink prices rose by a new all-time high of 15% last month compared with 14.1% in January, according to Eurostat. Photo: Nicolas Tucat / AFP

Eurozone inflation higher than hoped as food costs soar

Inflation falls to 8.5% in February from 8.6% in January

March 2, 2023| AFP
Food prices showed "above average growth" in February, Destatis said, but energy prices "eased slightly" year-on-year. Photo: Ina Fassbender / AFP

German inflation holds steady in February at 8.7 per cent

Eurostat will publish its February inflation data for the 20-nation eurozone on Thursday

March 1, 2023| AFP
The distribution of wealth needs to be more balanced. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

We need more social justice – Ivan Bartolo

We cannot remain indifferent to the fact that the gap between the rich and the poor in Malta is increasing

February 18, 2023| Ivan Bartolo
Oil prices dipped on Monday, having jumped over 2% on Friday in reaction to Russia's decision to slash output. Photo: Joe Raedle / Getty Images via AFP

European equities rise on hopes of inflation slowdown

Investors predict US and UK will report easing inflation tomorrow and Wednesday respectively

February 13, 2023| AFP
The cost-of-living crisis, including interest rate rises, has impacted consumer habits, making them less likely to spend on 'non-essentials', including a drink or a meal at a pub. Photo: Justin Tallis / AFP

UK pub bankruptcies soar on strong inflation: data

512 pubs went out of business last year compared to 280 in 2021

February 13, 2023| AFP
Sky-high consumer prices have sparked a cost-of-living crisis in Britain, and widespread industrial action weighed on December's performance. Photo shows stiking healthcare workers outside St Thomas' Hospital in London. Photo: Daniel Leal / AFP

UK avoids recession but 'not out of woods' over inflation

Zero GDP growth in Q4, 2022, after shrinking 0.3% in the previous three months

February 10, 2023| AFP
Every day we hear of prices going up. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

Increase the minimum wage – Joe Pace Ross

Minimum wage earners and pensioners cannot make ends meet

February 6, 2023| Joe Pace Ross
The slowdown coincides with a bump in President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's approval numbers heading into what promises to be a close election race. Photo: Adem Altan / AFP

Turkey's inflation slows for third month ahead of election

Consumer prices rise by 57.7% in January, 64.3% in December

February 3, 2023| AFP
The cost of VRT for standard private cars has gone up to €30.27 as from January.

Prices go up for VRT and cigarettes

VRT fees increased by €5 in 2021 and a further €5 at the beginning of this year

February 3, 2023| Matthew Xuereb
While consumer price growth in the 20-nation currency club has eased, at 8.5%, it is still way above the ECB's 2% target. Photo: Lionel Bonaventure / AFP

ECB hikes rates again, says to 'stay course'

Its three key rates now sit in range between 2.5 and 3.25%

February 2, 2023| AFP
While energy costs increased by a slower rate of 17.2% in January compared to 25.5% a month earlier, food and drink costs recorded a greater rise of 14.1% last month compared to 13.8% in December. Photo: Lionel Bonaventure / AFP

Eurozone inflation falls but uncertainty remains

Consumer price rises in January ease to 8.5%, down from 9.2% in December

February 1, 2023| AFP
The modest monthly rise came as prices for goods decreased 0.7% and energy costs dropped 5.1%. Photo shows a woman entering a Forever 21 store in New York City. Photo: Michael M. Santiago / Getty Images via AFP

Key US inflation gauge slows in December on easing goods and energy costs

Personal consumption expenditures price index rise slows to 5.0% last month

January 27, 2023| AFP
Central bankers fear that inflation becomes “entrenched”, leading to a “wage-price spiral”, when workers demand regular wage resets. Photo: Shutterstock.com

The sorry tale of the strawberry eater and strawberry seller – Andreas Weitzer

Someone somewhere has started to raise prices, and gets away with it because there’s no immediate alternative

January 22, 2023| Andreas Weitzer