The Competition and Markets Authority published an update last week saying that retailers’ fuel margins are still significantly above historic levels. 

Some supermarkets’ margins are roughly double what they were in 2019. 

The overall cost to drivers from increased fuel prices in the last four years is estimated at £1.6 billion.

Sarah Cardell, chief executive of the CMA, said it plans to work with the new government to put in place a real-time fuel tracker scheme to kick start competition among retailers.

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The Construction Products Association has downgraded its industry growth forecast for the second time this year. 

The summer forecast published yesterday now expects construction output to fall by nearly 3%.

The negative outlook is being attributed to the slow recovery of the private house building market and consumers holding off on repair, maintenance and improvement work.

The trade body’s forecast for 2025 and 2026 remained largely unchanged, with the industry expected to achieve 2% growth next year.

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Nearly two thirds of Brits don’t have confidence that the Labour government will meet its ambitious house building targets, claims research from Mybuilder.com.

The survey by the trade recommendation site also suggests that those over 55 have even less confidence that the housing target will be reached.

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