Scarborough retailers conscious of inflation rise
Inflation has reached a 40-year high of 10.1 percent
Last updated 17th Aug 2022
There is no let-up for people struggling to meet the cost of living as inflation rises – again – with it now in double figures.
Last month it was 10.1 percent, with a jump in the prices of food items like vegetables and eggs helping push it to a new 40-year high.
Other household essentials including toilet roll and toothpaste are also increasing.
Janet Jefferson is the President of Scarborough's Chamber of Trade and Commerce.
She also owns a train shop in the town centre and said: "I got a notification from one of our large suppliers telling us that they were putting their products up 10 percent across the board, not certain products, all products by 10 percent. Others have probably done the same, relaying to the cost of materials, transport and of course most of the products that I deal with are imported.
"We're quite established. We actually celebrate 40 years next year so we do have quite a variety of stock. I think as any retailer would probably say, with the inflation as it is, you have to be selective in what you buy to sell on because people's purses are not as strong.
"They're very concerned about the increase in energy costs and we don't know if they're going to be capped. I mean first and foremost people have to eat and they have to keep themselves warm, so I think people are also apprehensive and as to what they will buy, I think that's a cautious way of moving forward.
"Scarborough has had a good season up until now. The weather has been good and so I think it's the change in weather that will bring more into retail as well. I think as retailers we do have to think as to what we're buying and do we reduce our profits so it's not too high and increased when the increases come in."