Cost

Domino’s Pizza、KFC 运营商 Collins Foods 以及多品牌食品特许经营持有者 Retail Food Group 的股价均遭受两位数下跌 获取我们的突发新闻邮件、免费应用程序或每日新闻播客 快餐曾是廉价饮食的象征，而由于生活成本压力再次袭来，它正转变为许多人无法负担的奢侈品。这一转变反映在 ASX 上，主要的披萨、炸鸡和甜甜圈门店股价大幅下跌，引发了一个问题：消费者的情绪是否如此沮丧，以至于连快餐都要放弃了？ 继续阅读...

• Defense secretary 在昨日 House 经历了一场情绪激烈的会议后，将接受 Senate armed services committee 议员的质询。欢迎阅读我们的 US 政治报道，Pete Hegseth 正面临在 Capitol Hill 接受 Democrats 质询的第二天，senators 获得了首次就其处理 Iran 战争的方式与这位 Pentagon 负责人对峙或对其表示赞赏的机会。 • 这位 Defense secretary 昨天在 House armed services committee 进行了近六个小时的听证会，期间与 Democrats 以及一些 Republicans 展开了交锋，他面临着关于战争的金钱成本、生命代价以及关键 weapons 库存减少的质疑。 • 在政府停摆（government shutdown）导致政府支出反弹后，US 第一季度的经济增长可能有所加速。上一季度 gross domestic product 的预期增长也将反映出在 artificial intelligence 支出热潮和支撑该技术的 data centers 建设推动下，企业在 equipment 投资方面的强劲增长。数据将于 8.30am ET 公布。

消费者洞察追踪显示，85% 的人对食品价格感到担忧，且大多数人认为经济将恶化。根据周四发布的 Which? 报告，随着消费者采取极端措施应对不断上涨的成本，300 万 UK 家庭正被迫省掉一餐。Middle East 冲突及随之而来的石油和原材料价格飙升，已导致企业准备提价，从而给家庭财务状况带来更大压力并打击了消费者信心。继续阅读...

• 由于美以对伊战争期间霍尔木兹海峡封锁影响能源市场，汽油价格已飙升至每加仑 4 美元以上，机票价格飞涨，削弱了特朗普的关键政治优势。 • 超过四分之三的登记选民——包括超过半数的共和党人和 82% 的无党派人士——目前将影响燃料、食品杂货、住房和医疗保健的生活成本危机归咎于特朗普。 • 在政府停摆、关税以及美以联合对伊朗发动袭击后，特朗普第二任期的支持率下降速度远快于历任总统，美联储主席 Jerome Powell 警告称战争正在推高通胀。

• 近三分之二 (64%) 的美国成年人担心无法承担医疗成本，其中 30% 表示非常担心，医疗负担已成为比油价更高的首要担忧问题。 • 尽管面临其他经济压力，医疗负担能力仍然是公众的主要担忧。 • 该民调凸显了在医疗费用上涨的情况下，家庭面临的持续财务压力。

在其国防部长在众议院委员会作证期间，Trump 发布了一张自己持有武器的 AI 生成图像，并配文称“不再是好人”。Pete Hegseth 否认美国与以色列针对伊朗的战争是“一个泥潭”，并声称此次行动的批评者对美国的威胁比伊朗本身更大。与此同时，他正面临阐明华盛顿针对该冲突策略的压力。在与参谋长联席会议主席 Gen Dan Caine 一同出席众议院军事服务委员会会议时，这位美国国防部长请求立法者批准 1.5 万亿美元的军事支出预算，随后将其中部分立法者描述为战争努力中“最大的挑战”。阅读更多...

• 布朗呼吁警方调查前王子的公共资金使用情况，并表示他在2008年曾要求同事就此问题进行沟通 • 前首相透露，他曾要求商务部的同事就 Mountbatten-Windsor 的差旅费用向其进行质询。

破产管理公司指出，在相关企业数量增加至 62,193 家后，税收上涨、人员成本及消费者信心不稳成为了主因。根据重组公司 Begbies Traynor 的研究，由于企业面临“一系列税收增加”以及中东冲突的影响，英国处于“关键财务压力”中的企业数量在过去一年中增长了超过三分之一。其中，餐饮酒店和休闲业由于消费者信心动摇、税收增加及人员成本上升，情况尤为糟糕。阅读详情...

• 随着对“最易受影响部门”国家援助规则的放宽，渔业公司也可获得最高70%的补贴。

Climate group calls for urgent windfall tax on excess fossil fuel profits, as delegates tell Colombia conference their nations are sufferingThe Middle East oil and gas crunch will impose as much as a trillion dollars of additional costs on the global economy while petroleum companies rake in spectacular profits from elevated fuel prices, analysis has revealed.The uneven distribution of risk and reward comes amid rising concern that the US-Israeli attack on Iran is worsening inequality, poverty and hunger across a world that has become dangerously dependent on fossil fuels. Continue reading...

• East Bay man in Contra Costa County died after consuming toxic wild mushrooms amid statewide spike. • California recorded 35 mushroom poisoning cases from Nov. 18 to Jan. 4, far above average of under five yearly. • Surge prompts health warnings on foraging risks during wet weather conditions.

Exclusive: Report shows cost of first appointment rose $20 in one year, with steeper rises in Western Australia, South Australia and TasmaniaGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastPatients are increasingly going without medically necessary dermatological care, the head of the Consumers Health Forum said, as new report reveals the rising cost of the specialty in Australia.Dermatology is expensive and getting pricier, with an average first visit now costing an adult patient without concessions $230 out-of-pocket, while follow-up appointments cost almost $190, the report from health directory Cleanbill found. Continue reading...

• The Department of Justice dropped its criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Powell regarding the agency's building expenditures, marking a significant development in federal oversight. • The decision came amid broader discussions on Capitol Hill about federal accountability, with both Republican and Democratic representatives weighing in on the implications. • The outcome reflects shifting priorities in federal investigations and debates over Fed governance and spending practices.

Officials hope more casual attire for public servants will save electricity during Iran war as summer approachesPublic servants working for the Tokyo metropolitan government are being encouraged to swap their suits for shorts this summer to combat sweltering heat and rising energy costs caused by the US-Israel war on Iran.Inspired by the country’s Cool Biz energy-saving initiative, Tokyo officials hope the measure will cut dependence on air conditioning. Continue reading...

Donald Trump’s conflict with Iran could speed the EU’s green revolution – if panicking governments can hold their nerve on clean energy• Don’t get This Is Europe delivered to your inbox? Sign up hereA surge in demand for electric vehicles across Europe may be evidence of what George Monbiot greeted as the silver lining of the Iran war. Sales of electric cars in continental Europe rose by 51% in March.The International Energy Agency has called the disruption in the strait of Hormuz the “biggest energy crisis in history”, but it appears, on one level, to be accelerating Europe’s green revolution. Yet, even if car-owners are rushing to the EV showrooms, some European governments, facing a groundswell of anger over soaring petrol and gas prices, are at risk of sending the clean energy transition into reverse. Continue reading...

Firm had to repatriate almost 12,000 guests and staff, including from two cruise ships in Abu Dhabi and DohaThe Iran war has cost the travel company Tui €40m (£34.7m) so far, including repatriating almost 12,000 holidaymakers and staff, and forced it to cut its profit forecast for this year.Europe’s biggest holiday operator said that it had taken the hit in March owing to the impact of the conflict in the Middle East, as it was forced to bring home 5,000 guests from two cruise ships anchored in ports in Abu Dhabi and Doha. Continue reading...

Farmers have been calling for higher prices for weeks, amid soaring diesel and fertiliser costs and limited supplyGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastColes has increased home-brand milk prices by up to 20c a litre, with Woolworths set to follow as war in the Middle East starts to hit Australian grocery costs.The price rise will support the company’s bottom line against pressure from higher fuel and operating costs, while some of the revenue will be temporarily passed on to dairy farmers. Continue reading...

The trend has been accelerated by the US-Israel war on Iran, leaving households – and cafe owners – glum, surveys suggestFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastFor many coffee drinkers, takeaway orders are changing from a habitual purchase to an occasional treat, as elevated petrol prices and other living costs leave households feeling glum.This rapid shift in behaviour has disappointed cafe owners and surprised economists, raising an uneasy question: if takeaway coffee sales are falling, is the economy next? Continue reading...

• Oil prices dropped significantly, providing tailwinds for technology companies as lower energy costs reduce operational expenses and improve profit margins across the sector. • Constellation Research founder R 'Ray' Wang discussed the direct relationship between Big Tech performance and oil and gas pricing, highlighting how the energy market collapse supports tech stock rebounds. • The decline in energy costs removes a key headwind for capital-intensive tech operations and data centers, contributing to the broader market rally.

A Trace analysis found that revenue from fining white-collar criminals is drying up – due to presidential pardonsThis story was originally published by the Trace, a non-profit newsroom covering gun violence in America. Sign up for its newsletters here.Since his return to office last year, Donald Trump has pardoned dozens of white-collar criminals. He’s also forgiven their fines, penalties and restitution, to the tune of billions. Some of that revenue was supposed to go to a fund to help victims of violent crime – and the organizations that serve them are feeling the pinch. Continue reading...

Health secretary and chef Robert Irvine claim Americans could eat healthier and more cheaply if they shopped betterSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxThe first episode of the new Secretary Kennedy Podcast, produced by the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), opens with this quote from guest Robert Irvine, who creates meal plans for the US military: “We talk about food being expensive. If you’re buying expensive food, it’s expensive. But if you’re buying food and you know what to do with it, it’s not expensive.”The episode is titled Fixing America’s Food System – Robert Irvine, and features a 45-minute conversation with the HHS secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr, the host of the show, and guest Irvine. Best known as a celebrity chef, Irvine has collaborated with the US military to launch Victory Fresh, a program that offers healthy grab-and-go meals on military bases, during the Biden administration. The program’s Biden-era origins are never acknowledged during the show. Continue reading...

Scheme cutting bills by up to 25% expanded to cover 10,000 firms, but they will not be paid until next yearRachel Reeves has announced an expansion of support for the most energy-intensive UK businesses, as they face soaring bills as a result of the Middle East conflict.The chancellor said the long-promised British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS) would be expanded to cover 10,000 companies, up from the 7,000 originally announced. Continue reading...

Consumer spending on travel is down for the first time in five years while card spending edges up in MarchUK consumers have cut back on travel spending for the first time in five years, as they worry about the rising cost of living amid the Iran war.Overall consumer card spending increased 0.9% year on year in March, down from February’s 1%, according to data from Barclays. Continue reading...

Governments spending $2.13bn annually on low quality food in public settings, report saysGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastReptile remains, believed to be from a crocodile, have been found dumped on the side of the road in Adelaide.A spokesperson for the state’s environment and water department confirmed in a statement that department staff had “collected the remains of a reptile at Waterloo Corner.” They said:The remains, which were dumped on the side of the road at Coleman Road, will be analysed in an effort to confirm the species and any other information.“It is not currently known how the remains came to be located at the site.A different approach can increase the use of fresh, local produce, redirect spending to Australian farmers and producers, support the people working in public food service kitchens, and generate real benefits for Australia.Better public food procurement is not about spending more, it’s about spending smarter. The evidence is clear, public support is strong, and the solutions exist. Given the threat to our food system caused by the global fuel and fertiliser crisis, now is the moment for leadership. Continue reading...

NSW government urged to investigate if transport department refused to share cost of sensors that would detect a person entering coupling areaFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe potentially life-saving safety upgrades to Sydney’s light rail, which a former Transdev employee has alleged were cancelled in order to save money, would have only cost about $2.2m, according to the whistleblower.The New South Wales government has been urged to investigate whether its transport department declined to share the cost of installing sensors that would detect a person entering the coupling area between two joined trams after a fatal incident in 2023. Continue reading...

• Truckload markets are tightening faster than anticipated, with freight costs now projected to increase 16–17% year over year in 2026, according to C.H. Robinson's April freight market update. • Capacity constraints and carrier attrition are driving the acceleration in transportation costs across North America. • The tighter capacity environment signals sustained pressure on logistics expenses for shippers as supply chain challenges persist into the second quarter.

PM appears to draw comparison between Russian and US leaders and calls for plan to restore shipping through strait of HormuzKeir Starmer has said he is “fed up” with the effect that Donald Trump’s actions in the Middle East are having on the British public, while appearing to draw a comparison between the US president to Vladimir Putin.Speaking to ITV’s Robert Peston on Thursday, the prime minister said: “I’m fed up with the fact that families across the country see their bills go up and down on energy, businesses’ bills go up and down on energy because of the actions of Putin or Trump across the world.” Continue reading...

Charity says it dealt with 75 incidents last year involving 100 or more animals living in one propertyThe cost of living crisis and an increase in people experiencing mental health difficulties have led to a rising number of multi-animal rescue incidents in England and Wales, an RSPCA superintendent has said.The animal charity this week had to confirm that a shocking photograph of more than 250 poodle-cross dogs found at a property in the UK was not faked with artificial intelligence. The RSPCA took in 87 of the dogs and the remainder went to the Dogs Trust, another charity. Continue reading...