Sainsbury's Faces Price Hikes Due to £140m Budget Cost Increase

The UK supermarket warns of rising inflation following unexpected national insurance and business rate changes.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves's budget has increased Sainsbury's costs by £140m due to higher national insurance contributions and business rates.
Sainsbury's CEO Simon Roberts states that these additional costs will lead to unavoidable price hikes for consumers.
The supermarket chain reports strong grocery sales, attributed to a return to office work and a shift towards home dining.
Despite increased sales, Sainsbury's anticipates inflationary pressures that will affect both its operations and customer prices.
The company calls on the government to expedite business rate reforms to alleviate the financial burden on retailers.