Hard-pressed motorists see 3p drop in the cost of a litre of petrol as Sainsbury's and Asda start forecourt price war

Hard-pressed motorists see 3p drop in the cost of a litre of petrol as Sainsbury's and Asda start forecourt price war - Daily Mail

New prices will come into effect tomorrow
Move comes after a warning from Government that it was looking at ways to ensure petrol retailers do not delay price cuts when wholesale costs fall
Lowest price in over a year as prices have fallen 11p since their peak in April
But cost of petrol will start to rise again in the summer because of Government plans for fuel duty increase in August

By Jill Reilly

PUBLISHED: 05:26 EST, 12 June 2012 | UPDATED: 05:27 EST, 12 June 2012

A fresh supermarket price war on the forecourts is underway with giants Asda and Sainsbury's cutting up to 3p a litre from the price of fuel.

The retailers said the new charges would come into effect tomorrow.

The slash follows April’s record high petrol prices, which pushed the price of filling a family car to 100.

Slashed: Supermarket giants Asda and Sainsbury's are cutting up to 3p a litre from the price of fuel. The retailers said the new prices would come into effect tomorrow

The cuts mean that filling a typical car will be the cheapest since February 2011, according to experts.

Asda said an ease in global oil prices has enabled it to pass those savings on to motorists.

Transport Secretary Justine Greening said the Government would be prepared to introduce new laws to control prices

Drivers filling up at any of Asda's 195 forecourts nationwide will now pay no more than 129.7p per litre for unleaded and 134.7p per litre for diesel.

Andy Peake, Asda's director of petrol trading, said: 'Motorists will be pleased to know fuel is now at the lowest price in over a year as prices have fallen 11p since their peak in April.

'Unlike other retailers, our price cuts benefit everyone across the country, meaning that no-one filling up at Asda will be forced to pay a premium for their fuel.'

A Sainsbury's spokesman said: 'From tomorrow we will be cutting petrol and diesel prices in our petrol stations by up to 3p per litre. Sainsbury's is committed to delivering great value and helping customers cut down on cost wherever possible.'

A spokesman for the AA welcomed the cuts, saying that motorists would be getting a 'good price' for fuel.

But the cost of petrol looks set to rise again in the summer - in August the Government has planned 3.02 pence per litre rise in fuel duty.

The move to pass on lower prices to drivers comes after a warning from Government that it was looking at ways to ensure petrol retailers do not delay price cuts when wholesale costs fall.

Two weeks ago, Transport Secretary Justine Greening said companies should develop a code of practice to stop the 'indefensible' practice of petrol companies raising prices at the pump as soon as wholesale petrol and oil prices rise, only to delay lowering them again when costs fall.

She said the Government would be prepared to introduce new laws to bring about the change if companies failed to come up with a code of their own.

Trap rules out major changes - SkySports

The Irish take on holders Spain in Gdansk on Thursday desperate to take something from the game following their 3-1 defeat to Croatia in their Group C opener.

There have been calls for change in the starting XI following the Republic's limp display against Croatia, but Trapattoni is ready to keep faith with the majority of his players.

"Our team usually play better against famous teams, famous players. We must believe in our quality, the reasons that got us here," noted Trapattoni.

"Usually Spain dominate the midfield. I think we can adapt ourselves with the players we have. We have other players that can do double jobs. For example, Cox and Walters. They can help."

"Our team usually play better against famous teams, famous players. We must believe in our quality, the reasons that got us here."
Giovanni Trapattoni Quotes of the week

When asked whether it would be skipper Robbie Keane who made way, Trapattoni added: "Keane is very important. He has personality, experience."

Trapattoni also suggested he is unlikely to throw in Sunderland's James McClean against Spain, preferring to stick with his experienced players.

"It is important to [introduce young players] at a quiet opportunity, not when we need a performance under pressure. It's a heavy weight on his shoulders," added Trapattoni.

No second guessing

Meanwhile, Trapattoni admits he does not know what to expect from Spain counterpart Vicente del Bosque as the pair prepare for Euro 2012 battle.

Del Bosque caused raised eyebrows when he named his team for Sunday night's Group C opener against Italy and did not include a single specialist striker.

That left £50million Fernando Torres and Athletic Bilbao star Fernando Llorente, among others, kicking their heels on the bench.

However, Republic of Ireland manager Trapattoni is not about to try to second-guess an old foe ahead of Thursday night's must-win encounter between the two nations in Gdansk.

"I think after I saw the game, maybe, maybe, he will play with Torres. Maybe. But Vicente decides his own tactics," said Trapattoni.

"Maybe he thought the Italians have a good defence and he would play with these small, fast and tactical players.

"He changed when he understood. At this moment, he had the necessity to put up front a big striker and he [Torres] had a good opportunity.

"I don't know how he will play against us. Sure, we know which team we have in front of us, what quality they have. I have an idea, but at this moment, I couldn't say 'this' or 'this' or 'this'.

"But I can't think about if they will play with Torres or without Torres, also Llorente or the other strikers. That's not my job, it's Vicente's job."

Ted Baker's sales boosted by overseas growth - BBC News

12 June 2012 Last updated at 03:30 ET

Fashion brand Ted Baker has reported a rise in half-year sales, helped by expansion overseas.

Its total sales for the six months to 9 June were 16% higher than a year earlier, boosted by expansion of its US wholesale business.

The UK company also opened its first store in Tokyo, and new concession spaces in Netherlands and South Korea.

Ted Baker did not reveal a like-for-like sales figure, which pulls out the impact of new openings.

Analysts said that although the figures were boosted by these new shops, they indicated the resilience of the brand in difficult times.

"Despite this more muted consumer backdrop Ted Baker has been able to post solid results because it has persuaded customers it is worthwhile paying a premium for product which has a quality edge as well as strong design credentials," said Neil Saunders of retail analysts Conlumino.

"This flight to quality has been a notable trend during the downturn," he added.

Its founder and chief executive, Ray Kelvin, said: "The group has made a good start to 2012, despite continued uncertainty in the trading environment."

Moneyonthego.net Answers Call for Simpler Online Shopping Experience - msnbc.com

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — MasterCard recently conducted a survey that identified the key "pain points" of online shopping, according to Internet consumers. The report of this survey, featured on The Wall Street Journal, details the multiple ways in which online shoppers would like the Internet-based shopping experience to improve. Moneyonthego.net, a member-based online retail community, has already started putting new shopping processes into place.

According to the article, shoppers are looking for Internet retailers that store their information in a secure manner. They are tired of repeatedly entering their payment, billing, and other information every time they make a purchase. Additionally, they say that they want the same level of security that they find on Internet-based websites on mobile retail applications.

Geoff Iddison, who is the Group Executive of e-Commerce and Mobile for MasterCard Worldwide, explained the survey's findings: "Online and mobile shopping puts a host of new options at consumers' fingertips, but the current checkout process needs improvement to fully realize the potential of these important retail channels. The research shows that consumers want a simpler, faster way to enter account information, so they can spend more time searching for exactly what they want and less time filling out forms at checkout."

Despite these complaints, consumers have shown a growing dependence on online shopping sites. As they have become more accustomed to conducting business on the Internet, they have invested an increasing amount of trust into the relatively new shopping method. Now, the goal is to retain shoppers who are already using ecommerce while attracting new consumers -- which may happen through streamlined checkout procedures.

"Moneyonthego.net has done everything possible to make its members comfortable with the online shopping experience," commented Moneyonthego.net representative Greg Bielawski. "We have seen that, as Internet-based shopping has become increasingly popular, our members have become more and more comfortable with ecommerce. Now that they know their information is safe with us, they are turning to us for more convenient shopping methods. We have made great strides in creating a simple and easy shopping experience for our members."

ABOUT:

An online shopping community, Moneyonthego.net allows members to purchase affordable products, which are offered through a detailed and diverse virtual catalogue. Moneyonthego.net offers a 2,500 dollar shopping credit to new members, which can be applied to products that are listed in the Company's online Rewards Mall. This Mall contains over 80,000 products that are in demand and similar to those offered by popular retailers. In addition to the shopping credit, Moneyonthego.net provides members with a Prepaid MasterCard that accumulates a reward point for each dollar the Member loads onto the card. These Reward Points (up to 1,000 each month) can then be redeemed in the Rewards Mall.

For more information about Moneyonthego.net membership, and to learn about the many benefits that such a membership can provide, visit www.moneyonthego.net.

Olympic hours for Sunday shoppers - Westmidlands.com

Shopping centres will open for longer on Sundays throughout the summer to cash in on the Olympics as a boom in visitors is expected in the country, bosses revealed today.

The Bullring in Birmingham will open for an extra three hours during the Games. While the Guildhall Shopping Centre in Stafford and Merry Hill in Dudley will be open for two hours longer on Sundays.

Meanwhile, bosses at both the Mander Centre and the Wulfrun Centre in Wolverhampton today said they were also considering extending their opening hours.

The Government has relaxed the Sunday trading laws to help boost trade during the Olympics, when it is estimated more than one million people will visit the UK. Chancellor George Osborne first proposed emergency legislation so large shops in England and Wales can trade for more than six hours in his budget.

The laws have been suspended for eight weekends from July 22 during the Olympics and Paralympics.

At the Bullring, the weekday opening hours will remain the same but the centre will be opening longer on Sundays between July 29 and September 9, from 10am until 7pm, instead of 11am until 5pm.

While Merry Hill will be open between 10am and 6pm from July 22 and September 9, instead of 11am until 5pm.

Westfield, which owns the centre, says it will be running special events and hosting entertainment during the summer.

Centre manager Lucas Ross said: “Department stores and speciality stores will be open and we anticipate shoppers will love the extra flexibility to shop later on Sundays during this time.”

Wolverhampton’s Mander Centre director Nicholas Pitt said the venue was in discussions with tenants about extended opening hours.

He said: “We are looking at what can be done so our tenants can capitalise on trade. For some it might not make sense, depending on costs involved with remaining open. We hope to make an announcement in the next few days.”

The Guildhall Shopping Centre will be open between 9.30am and 5.30pm on Sundays from July 22, instead of 10.30am – 4.30pm.

Meanwhile, Wulfrun Centre bosses are expected to speak to traders about the possibility of extending opening hours today.

Queens Square Shopping Centre in West Bromwich will not be extending its opening hours.

NEW YORK WHOLESALE

Tuesday, June 12, 2012