Shoppers could face higher prices as a growing number of big British firms warn about the cost of the National Insurance (NI) tax rises on employers announced in last week’s Budget.

Sainsbury’s and Marks & Spencer have hinted at price rises, while pub chain Wetherspoons said “all hospitality business” will increase prices as a result of the tax changes.

Meanwhile, Primark’s owner said on Tuesday it may invest more overseas due to the “weight of tax rises”.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves told the BBC on Sunday the NI changes were needed “to put our public finances on a firm footing”.

From next April, employers will have to pay NI at 15% on salaries above £5,000, instead of 13.8% on salaries above £9,100 currently.

The change is set to raise £20bn a year, making it one of the biggest single tax-raising measures in history.

Sainsbury’s chief executive Simon Roberts said on Thursday the NI changes would cost the business around £140m, a sum which does not include the increases to minimum wage.

“I don’t think you can shy away from the fact that, because of the changes in everyone’s cost base, it is going to feed through into higher inflation,” he said.

“We will do everything we can to mitigate the impact, like you’ve seen over the last four years, to really improve our pricing position.

“But this barrage of costs coming at us is significant and we’re an industry, a very efficient industry and intensely competitive, and there just isn’t capacity to absorb all of this.”

His comments come after Marks & Spencer chief executive Stuart Machin said on Wednesday the supermarket could not rule out price rises following the Budget.

Mr Machin said he “didn’t quite see the double whammy coming up”, referring to both the NI rise for employers and the reduction of the threshold for it applying.

Asked directly if this would mean higher prices, he said: “I can’t rule out anything because it’s still early days in our planning.”

He estimated that the NI change and the increases to minimum wage would cost the business £120m.

Also on Wednesday, Wetherspoons said that following the Budget taxes and business costs were “expected to increase by approximately £60m… including an estimated 67% increase in national insurance contributions”.

Chairman Tim Martin added: “All hospitality businesses, we believe, plan to increase prices, as a result. Wetherspoon will, as always, make every attempt to stay as competitive as possible.”

Meanwhile, Primark’s owner Associated British Foods said on Tuesday it may invest beyond the UK because of the “weight of tax rises”.

“We’re an international business as well, we have choices about where we will invest,” said chief executive George Weston.

At the weekend, the chancellor was asked whether there was any chance she would rethink the NI rise for employers.

“I’m not immune to their criticism,” Reeves told the Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, “but we’ve got to raise the money to put our public finances on a firm footing.”

Reeves has been criticised for her repeated claim that the Budget would not include tax rises on “working people”.

The Office for Budget Responsibility has calculated that three quarters of the impact of the NI changes will be felt by employees as bosses hold back on pay rises and hiring in the face of higher wage bills.

During a select committee hearing on Tuesday. the OBR’s Prof David Miles said it was “very plausible” this would disproportionately affect lower-paid workers.

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Shares in Sir Martin Sorrell’s S4 Capital fell to a record low after the UK marketing group warned that earnings and revenues would be lower than expected this year.

Sorrell said technology clients continued to cut marketing spending amid challenging global macroeconomic conditions and high interest rates, but promised to cut costs in the group so that headcount matched the new lower revenues.

S4 shares dropped almost 15 per cent in early trading on Thursday after the profit warning, its second in less than two months, which is likely to raise further questions among executives in the advertising industry about the long-term future of the group. S4 has had approaches from rivals in the past, including New York-listed Stagwell.

Overall the group’s shares have plunged by almost half in the past 12 months.

The advertising group, which was created by Sorrell after he left WPP in 2018, said net revenue for 2024 would fall “by low double digits” and earnings would be slightly lower than last year.

S4 said it would continue to cut costs, with a “significant reduction in the number” of staff reflecting the lower revenues.

Revenue fell 19.3 per cent reported to £198.4mn in the third quarter, S4 said in a trading update. The company is heavily exposed to clients in the tech sector and has sought to use new technology such as artificial intelligence in its processes.

Sorrell said: “Trading in the third quarter reflected the continued impact of trends we saw in the first half, namely challenging global macroeconomic conditions and high interest rates, as well as some underperformance when compared to our addressable markets.”

Analysts at Peel Hunt said trading at S4 was slower than expected in the third quarter, which would lead them to trim their estimates for earnings in 2024 by between 4 and 6 per cent.

SAINSBURY’S has discontinued a popular breakfast item, leaving shoppers devastated and paying more at the till.

Eagle-eyed customers have noticed the supermarket has axed its two-litre carton of orange juice.

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Confused shoppers took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to find out more.

One said: “Very simple question, why have you stopped selling 2L orange juice, forcing us to pay more for 2 x 1L?”

Sainsbury’s shoppers could previously pick up a large carton of the citrus-flavoured juice for £1.99.

But now, if they want a bigger serving, they have to purchase two one-litre cartons, priced at £1.19 each.

This works out at £2.38 for two litres of orange juice, a 38p increase compared to when they could buy it as a single item.

Sainsbury’s confirmed on social media that the product was no more and apologised for the inconvenience.

But one disgruntled shopper warned they would take their business to discounter Aldi.

They said: “Aldi sells [two-litre cartons], and this leaves me no alternative but to go to them.”

The discounter sells orange juice for £1.99, the same price as Sainsbury’s before it was discontinued.

The Sun has approached Sainsbury’s for comment.

It is not the only time the grocer has axed a popular drink from its shelves.

Earlier this year, Sainsbury’s waved goodbye to its full-sugar lemonade, disappointing customers.

The saccharine drink was one of the few left on the market which did not contain sweeteners and was red-rated for its high levels of sugar.

Customer Claire-Louise complained on X: “Not everyone can tolerate sweeteners and some people choose to avoid them. Very disappointing.”

A representative for Sainsbury’s said at the time: “We regularly review our ranges so that we dedicate space in our stores to the products which are most popular with our customers.”

Vanishing products

Grocers regularly pull items from shelves if they do not perform well or make way for new items.

M&S confirmed last month that it axed its Cocoa & Cherry Bircher pot.

The tub was a popular breakfast snack for many customers who like to eat on the go.

Meanwhile, we can reveal eight nostalgic foods that have disappeared from supermarket shelves over the years.

There is everything from Campbell’s soup to Caramac, and while we won’t know for sure if these loved snacks will ever return, it is worth keeping an eye out.

What is new at Sainsbury’s

Thankfully it is not all doom and gloom at Sainsbury’s.

The retailer has unveiled its Christmas range much to the delight of shoppers.

Some items are currently available to buy but a handful of festive meats and desserts will not land in stores until December.

The popular Sticky Toffee liqueur is back this Christmas, too, quickly becoming a family favourite last year.

Its slots for Christmas shopping delivery have also opened for all customers.

You can get a look at the full range by clicking the link here.

Why are products axed or recipes changed?

ANALYSIS by chief consumer reporter James Flanders.

Food and drinks makers have been known to tweak their recipes or axe items altogether.

They often say that this is down to the changing tastes of customers.

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There are several reasons why this could be done.

For example, government regulation, like the “sugar tax,” forces firms to change their recipes.

Some manufacturers might choose to tweak ingredients to cut costs.

They may opt for a cheaper alternative, especially when costs are rising to keep prices stable.

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For example, Tango Cherry disappeared from shelves in 2018.

It has recently returned after six years away but as a sugar-free version.

Fanta removed sweetener from its sugar-free alternative earlier this year.

Suntory tweaked the flavour of its flagship Lucozade Original and Orange energy drinks.

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While the amount of sugar in every bottle remains unchanged, the supplier swapped out the sweetener aspartame for sucralose.

TUI has launched its first ever flights to a popular African city.

Luxor is now much easier to get to for Brits wanting some winter sun in Egypt.

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Previously having to travel from Hurghada or Sharm el Sheikh, easyJet also announced its first direct flights earlier this year.

TUI has since joined with the new direct Luxor route, operating from both Manchester and London Gatwick airports.

Two flights a week will see them depart to Luxor on Thursdays, and returning on a Tuesday.

The season route, starting today, will run until April 24th next year, before returning in November 2025.

Lucie Hinton, Head of Aviation Business Development at Manchester Airport, said: “We are thrilled to see TUI launching this new service to Luxor.

“Manchester Airport is proud to connect the North with over 200 destinations worldwide – but this is our first Luxor service and will offer holidaymakers an unforgettable experience delving into the history and culture of Ancient Egypt.”

TUI has eight hours in the Luxor area, including a Hilton Luxor, as well as package tours exploring the tombs and temples.

The new flights are also part of TUI’s River Cruises, with the newly refurbished five-star ship, TUI Al Horeya, on it’s maiden voyage along the River Nile.

Passengers can book seven night, all-inclusive sailings from Luxor, that work with the new TUI flights.

Stopping at destinations such as Edfu, Kom Ombo, Aswan, onboard is a swimming pool, dining space and even two Egyptologists.

Want to do both cruise and holiday? The Legends of the Nile package has seven-night cruise and seven night hotel stays included.

Katy Berzins, Head of TUI River Cruises at TUI River Cruises, stated: “We are excited to be welcoming our first passengers onto our first river cruise ship down the River Nile, TUI Al Horeya, this winter season on these inaugural flights from Manchester and London Gatwick airports.”

Also launching this week are easyJet‘s first flights to Luxor for the first time in a decade.

Starting on November 11, the new route will connect London Gatwick to the Egyptian city.

While holidaymakers often head to Sharm el Sheikh and Hurghada – both being beach resorts, Luxor is home to some of Egypt’s most famous attractions.

Previously named Thebes, it was the ancient capital, and now said to be one of the world’s “greatest open-air museums”.

It is home to the huge Valley of the Kings, as well as the tomb of Tutankhamun.

It isn’t a pricey destination either, with the average spend per day being between £20 and £40.

Also in Egypt is the world’s biggest museum, with the £1billion Grand Egyptian Museum opening in Giza earlier this year.

Egypt could soon be home to a new £84billion city the size of Barcelona with holiday resorts and even its own airport.

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The Indian rupee fell to an all-time low of 84.195 versus the US dollar, inching down 0.1 per cent from Tuesday’s close as other Asian currencies got pummeled. The rupee muted response could be the Reserve Bank of India possibly selling dollars. Sensex and Nifty both gained in Wednesday morning trade, with markets betting on an impeding Trump win.

Sensex and Nifty were lifted mostly by rallying IT stocks on the US sentiment, with Sensex jumping more than 338 points and Nifty climbing 101 points. IT scripts of Infosys, TCS, Tech Mahindra, and HCL Technologies were comfortably in the green, along with NTPC, Maruti, Bajaj Finserv, Sun Pharma, and Bajaj Finance. All of the 13 major sectors traded in the green, with IT leading.

was the top sectoral gainerALSO READ | US Elections 2024: Donald Trump bags hattrick win in swing-state North Carolina

JSW Steel and Tata Steel traded in the red with the impending tariff scare. Despite foreign investors offloading almost Rs 2,570 crore worth of shares on Tuesday, markets recovered, with domestic investors buying more than Rs 3,030 crore in equities.

Going further east, only Tokyo and mainland China exchanges traded in the green, while the Korean and Hond Kong markets went red. The Malaysian ringgit, Thai baht, Korean won, and even the Chinese yuan fell by more than 1 per cent, in morning trade with Trump projected to win more battleground states in a tight US Presidential elections.

During the Republican campaign, Trump did invoke India charging high tariffs and hinted at a possible rebuttal. He has only assured at least a 10 per cent tariff imposition on all imports, and much higher on imports from China.