Food prices spiked in March as Middle East conflict drove up energy costs, UN says

Biggest rises were in vegetable oil and sugar prices, which increased by 5% and 7% respectively

M&S calls for crackdown on ‘brazen, organised, aggressive’ retail crime

Bosses write to home secretary and London mayor listing series of incidents staff have faced in past week

Bank of England survey in March shows chief financial officers foresee 3.7% increase over coming year

Sites such as Vinted and ThredUp expected to help resale grow twice as fast as overall clothing market in coming years

Which? testers complain M&S sponge is ‘too dry’ as Waitrose’s Cecil tops the tree with ‘best buy’ gong

Discussion on how to ease impact from Iran war coincides with Food and Drink Federation almost tripling forecast

Rachel Reeves will address concerns about price rises and shortages with retailers as energy costs surge

This ‘growth-led separation’ is an awkward, sprawling deal, far from the clean break some may have wished for

Simon Roberts says Easter shop will be unaffected by Middle East conflict, but industry warns prices may rise this year

More than half of roles could be hit and young shop workers in particular could lose out, trade body warns

Examining the packaging is key to avoiding illegal and potentially harmful devices, as millions are seized each year

Comments from boss Allan Leighton come as squeeze on supplies drives average UK petrol price above 150p a litre

Regulator fears use of ‘covert marketing strategies’ by Sephora and Benefit might fuel compulsive habits

Allan Leighton predicts food prices will inevitably rise, as group’s full-year profits dive by a third to £764m

Timing lags in the retail industry mean the impact of fuel and fabric inflation may not be felt until autumn ranges land