Topic
price hike
Commodities Brent crude tops $100 a barrel as West Asia conflict fuels oil supply fears
Brent crude oil briefly topped $100 per barrel for the first time since May, surging 6.2% to $99.94 after attacks on two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea heightened supply fears. The price had fallen below $72 just weeks ago, roughly back to pre-Iran war levels.
Manufacturing Lindt Easter chocolate sales drop 7.5% by volume after 11.8% price hike triggers demand slump
Swiss chocolate maker Lindt reported a 0.9% revenue decline and a 7.5% drop in chocolate volume sold in the first half of 2026, after implementing an 11.8% groupwide price increase. The company partially reversed the price hike and boosted marketing in some regions to recover volume. Sales fell most sharply in Europe, particularly in the UK, Germany, and Switzerland, while North America, Australia, China, and Japan saw growth.
Business US Stocks Mixed as Micron Surges on AI Outlook, Apple Slides After Price Hikes
US stocks traded mixed on Thursday as a rally in AI-linked chipmakers, led by Micron Technology, offset losses in Apple after it announced price increases. The Dow rose 228 points, while the Nasdaq fell 1.2%. Micron surged 9.7% on strong earnings and forecast, easing AI valuation concerns. Apple dropped 4.8% after 15-20% Mac price hikes, attributed to rising memory costs. Markets also found support from easing Treasury yields after in-line inflation data.
SSE Airtricity Price Hike Highlights Sustained Wholesale Electricity Market Volatility
SSE Airtricity domestic customers in Northern Ireland will pay £71.57 more annually from 1 August, a 6.2% increase driven by sustained wholesale market volatility and higher wholesale costs, according to the company.
Commodities India Raises Onion Procurement Price by 13% as Buffer Stock Buildup Lags
The Indian government increased onion procurement price by 13% to Rs 2,125 per quintal effective July 4, 2026, aiming to improve farmer realisations and accelerate buffer stock accumulation. Despite five consecutive price hikes, only about 2,000 tonnes have been procured since June 1, as arrivals remain steady and exports face competition from Pakistan and China. Delayed monsoon and speculative buying in key production centres like Nashik have influenced market dynamics, while overall production is nearly unchanged at 307.37 lakh tonnes.
Apple Hikes MacBook and iPad Prices by Nearly 20%, Blaming Surging Chip Costs from AI Data Center Demand
Apple has increased prices of some MacBooks and iPads by nearly 20% worldwide, citing an 'unprecedented' surge in memory and storage chip costs. The company attributes the hike to soaring demand for chips to power AI data centers. The price increases affect enterprise hardware procurement, with analysts expecting other PC and tablet brands to follow suit.
Manufacturing Mercedes-Benz to Raise Prices 1-2% in India on Exchange Rate and War Cost Pressures
Mercedes-Benz will increase car prices in India by 1-2% to cope with exchange rate volatility and war-related cost pressures, marking the third hike in 2026 totaling up to 4%. The automaker also launched a new plug-in hybrid S-Class variant, its first PHEV for India, priced between Rs 2.2-2.4 crore, with deliveries starting in Q4.
Manufacturing TV makers avoid price hikes by shifting to ad revenue, report says
Rising TV component costs have not led to price increases because manufacturers are pivoting to advertising revenue, according to market research firm Omnia. The report, cited by Digitimes, notes that fierce retailer competition, especially in North America, has kept margins thin. TV shipments rose 6% year-on-year, driven by World Cup demand and Chinese firms expanding overseas, according to Omdia.
Logistics Air Freight Costs Rise as ATF Prices Increase by 10%
Air freight costs are expected to rise following a 10% increase in aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices by oil marketing companies. The new price-stabilisation regime will freeze ATF prices at Rs 115 per litre for three years, affecting domestic and international flights of Indian carriers.
Commodities LPG Prices Surge Amid Global Energy Cost Pressures
LPG prices in India have increased by ₹29 per 14.2-kg cylinder, driven by elevated global energy costs. This marks the second hike in three months as state-owned fuel retailers manage losses.
Commodities India's Fuel Prices Steady Amid Global Oil Surge
India's fuel prices rose minimally by around 5% despite a global surge triggered by the West Asia crisis. Strategic excise duty cuts and limited pass-through helped mitigate the impact of rising crude oil costs.