- UK firms anticipate accelerating price increases, driven by surging energy costs linked to the Middle East conflict, according to the Bank of England's latest survey.
- The Decision Maker Panel (DMP) survey revealed that companies expect to raise prices by 3.5% over the next 12 months, a 0.1 percentage point increase from February's predictions.
- Single-month data showed inflation expectations rising from 3.4% in February to 3.7% in March, with firms adjusting forecasts due to recent energy price hikes.
- The Food and Drink Federation has warned that food inflation could exceed 9% by the end of the year, exacerbated by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
- Business uncertainty has significantly increased, with 57% of firms reporting high or very high levels in March, a 10 percentage point rise from the previous month.
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