Over 40% of retailers and transport and storage firms plan May price increases 

The latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) Business Insights survey reveals over 40% of retailers and transport and storage sector firms plan to increase their prices this month.

The figures reflect the equally sharp rises in costs UK businesses have faced since the start of the Iran conflict at the end of February, says the international delivery expert Parcelhero. It says transport and storage sector companies are leading the rise in prices, with retailers and manufacturers following close behind.

Parcelhero’s head of consumer research, David Jinks, said: ‘The results of the latest ONS Business Insights survey spell bad news for both British industry and for consumers. 41.1% of transport and storage sector companies say they plan to increase their prices this month, together with 40.5% of retailers and 35.2% of manufacturers.

‘To put these price increases into perspective, only 18.6% of transport and storage companies planned price increases for April, together with 25% of retailers and 21.5% of manufacturers. That is a 22.5 percentage point increase in the number of transport and storage firms planning increases over last month, a 15.5 percentage point increase in the number of retailers planning a rise and a 13.7 percentage point increase in the number of manufacturers planning to up their prices.

‘The situation is even gloomier when compared to March, when the impact of the conflict was only just beginning to bite. In March, only 10.5% of transport and storage firms increased their prices, together with 24.6% of retailers and 13.5% of manufacturers.

‘The planned price rises for this month are not surprising when we look at the increase in the cost of services and goods that companies are now facing. When comparing March to February, 50.6% of transport and storage firms reported an increase in the price of goods and services they bought in March, as did 50.9% of retailers and 48.5% of manufacturers.

‘The bad news didn’t stop there. As the impact of the conflict hit, 26% of transport and storage businesses reported their turnover decreased in March, together with 27.2% of retailers and 25% of manufacturers.

‘There is no mystery over the source of escalating prices and falling demand. Of those companies that experienced global supply chain disruption in March, 49.9% of retailers and 48.5% of manufacturers cited conflict in the Middle East. Across all business sectors, 46% cited conflict in the Middle East as a reason for experiencing global supply chain disruption in March – a 34 percentage point rise from February, according to the ONS. 

‘Businesses across all sectors face ongoing challenges created by the conflict. 27.6% of transport and storage companies, 43.9% of retailers and 37.4% of manufacturers said economic uncertainty was impacting their business. Across all business sectors that’s the highest proportion reported since the question was introduced in April 2022, says the ONS. 

‘Looking specifically at the factors causing businesses to consider raising their prices this month, 34.1% of transport and storage companies named energy costs, as did 42.9% of retailers and 45.2% of manufacturers. Of course, the cost of energy has risen as the Iran conflict has continued.

‘One final cost increase facing British businesses is in transport, because of the disruption to the Strait of Hormuz and to international shipping and aviation across the Middle East. 41.6% of transport and storage companies said this was an issue that has caused them to consider raising prices this month. Some 36.4% of retailers and 40.6% of manufacturers also cited transportation or haulage costs as factors causing their businesses to consider increasing prices during May.

‘Unfortunately, the economic impact of the conflict does not look likely to lessen anytime soon. The fragile ceasefire between the US and Iran is currently under increased threat over the Strait of Hormuz blockade, while international supply chains will face continued increased costs and disruption for months, even if the truce holds.’