SHOPPING: Grocery price inflation has reached a record 17.1 per cent — adding hundreds of pounds to annual household shopping bills, figures show.

The rise comes a year since monthly grocery inflation rose beyond 4 per cent as consumers named it their second most important issue behind energy costs, analysts Kantar said.

Kantar said it was closely following the impact of vegetable and fruit shortages on sales in the coming weeks.

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SCOTLAND: A Holyrood committee has backed the extension of Scotland’s eviction ban and rent freeze put in place to tackle the cost-of-living crisis.

Members of the local government, housing & planning committee voted through a change in regulations today by five votes to two.

The extension will now be voted on by all MSPs before it is finally approved.

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RENTING: Tenants could be given extra protections as the competition watchdog opened a new probe today into the building and rental sectors.

Officials at the Competition & Markets Authority said it will examine the relationship between tenants and landlords and the role of intermediaries, such as letting agents.

“The quality and cost of housing is one of the biggest issues facing the country,” said chief executive Sarah Cardell.
 
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WORKING LATE: Liverpool mayor Steve Rotheram has backed a Unite campaign for free and safe late-night transport to be provided to workers.

The Get Me Home Safely campaign calls for employers to provide transport home for all workers past 11pm.

Mr Rotheram said:  “Whether using public transport or walking home from work at night, too often women in our communities feel unsafe to do simple things that men take for granted.”