UK Grocery Inflation Higher Again as Countdown to Christmas Begins

• British shoppers faced renewed pressure on their budgets in October after grocery price inflation edged higher for the second month in a row, industry data showed on Tuesday. Market researcher Kantar said annual grocery price inflation was 2.3% in the four weeks to Nov. 3, having been 2.0% in the previous four-week period.
• UK supermarkets have warned that tax rises in the new Labour government's first budget last month, together with another rise in the national minimum wage, will be inflationary.
• Kantar said grocery sales rose 2.3% over the four-week period year-on-year to 11.6 billion pounds ($14.9 billion) - the biggest sales month of the year so far. The researcher said there were signs that some consumers were starting their Christmas shopping early.

(Source: Reuters)