Office for National Statistics
Coverage explores how economic data and labour market statistics from the UK’s national statistics agency inform business planning across the hospitality sector. Reporting includes updates on inflation, consumer spending, GDP, wage growth, vacancies, and employment levels, with analysis of how these indicators affect restaurant, pub, and catering performance. Insight is tailored for operators, finance leads, and strategy teams using ONS data to benchmark trading conditions, forecast demand, and shape workforce planning.
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Dec- 2024 -19 DecemberBusiness
BoE holds interest rates at 4.75%
The Bank of England (BoE) has voted to hold interest rates at 4.75%, following a recent hike in both inflation and wage growth. At its meeting this week, the bank’s monetary policy committee voted by a majority of 6–3 to maintain the current rate. Three members voted to reduce interest…
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18 DecemberGovernment
Inflation hits eight-month high of 2.6% in November
Inflation has risen for the second month in a row, rising to 2.6% in November, up from 2.3% the previous month, marking the highest level of inflation in eight months. According to the Office for National Statistics, the main drivers behind the rise were fuel and clothing, where prices rose this…
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Nov- 2024 -7 NovemberNews
Bank of England cuts interest rates to 4.75%
The Bank of England has cut interest rates for the second time this year, with rates now cut to 4.75%. The bank voted by a majority of 8–1 to reduce Bank Rate by 0.25 percentage points to 4.75%. One member preferred to maintain the previous rate of 5%. It had…
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Jun- 2024 -20 JuneNews
BoE holds interest rates for 7th consecutive month
Interest rates have remained unchanged at 5.25% for the seventh consecutive month, the Bank of England has announced. The bank’s MPC voted by a majority of 7–2 to maintain the rate, despite inflation hitting its target and falling to 2% in May. UK inflation hit its target for the first…
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Sep- 2023 -29 SeptemberBusiness
Hospitality vacancies fall by 33% after UKH Workforce Strategy success
Commitments made in UKHospitality’s Workforce Strategy, launched in May 2022, have helped bring down hospitality vacancies by 33% to 57,000 at its peak. In a significant update on the strategy’s progress since its launch, the sector now boasts “record” levels of employment in accommodation and food service with 2.7 million…
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May- 2023 -24 MayTrade Associations
UKH warns there is a ‘long way to go yet’ despite inflation fall
UKHospitality has warned that despite today’s (24 May) announcement that inflation fell to 8.7% in April, continued inflationary pressure means there is “a long way to go in this crisis yet”. Whilst calling the overall figures “encouraging”, the trade body warned that the “stubbornly high” food and drink inflation is…
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2 MayComment
Fighting the global food waste problem with AI and automation
With food and drink prices remaining stubbornly high in the UK despite recent Office for National Statistics figures showing a slowdown in inflation, it has never been more important to manage and reduce waste. Yet, according to the United Nations, roughly 17% of all food produced in the world for…
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Apr- 2023 -26 AprilNews
How degree apprenticeships can help solve hospitality’s talent problem
The number of job vacancies in the hospitality sector hit 146,000 between November 2022 and January 2023, according to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). This means vacancies remain to be 72% higher than those recorded pre-pandemic. The uncertainty of the pandemic, Brexit and cost-of-living crisis have caused…
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Mar- 2023 -7 MarchSponsored
Immigration crackdown: 6 ways to protect your business
According to the Office for National Statistics, there are an estimated 241,000 migrant workers employed in the UK restaurant industry. Yet, 71% of businesses that received civil penalties for breaking immigration law in London and South East England were restaurants or takeaways. The Home Office has announced that it will…
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Feb- 2023 -15 FebruaryBusiness
Inflation falls to 10.1% in January
Inflation slowed for the third consecutive month in January to 10.1%, down from 10.5% in December, but remains close to a near 40-year high. According to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), on a monthly basis, inflation fell by 0.6% in January 2023, compared with a…
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