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Bloomberg Soaring petrol prices in the UK caused millions of people to avoid driving this summer, according to the country’s Office for National Statistics. About 44% of people experiencing a cost of living squeeze took fewer non-essential car trips, according to an ONS survey. The figures — combined with Visa credit card data showing people put less fuel in their …

  Bloomberg Portugal plans to lower the value-added tax rate to 6% from 13% for a certain amount of electricity use as the government tries to help consumers face rising costs for energy and other goods. The decision will take effect in October, Prime Minister Antonio Costa said at a press conference in Lisbon on Monday evening. Other steps presented …

  Bloomberg Italy is targeting a reduction in natural gas consumption through the winter season by increasing the use of coal, turning down heating across the country, and pushing to change citizens’ habits, according to a document circulated by the ministry for ecological transition. As the country faces the prospect of paying twice as much for energy imports as it …

  Bloomberg South Africa announced its first rolling blackouts in almost three weeks, hours after the nation’s statistics office published data that showed economy contracted in second quarter when was hit by record power outages. Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd. will implement so-called stage-2 loadshedding, where it cuts 2,000 megawatts from the grid, until September 10. If the utility sticks to …

  Bloomberg Germany’s fears that soaring power and gas prices could trigger a deeper crisis is starting to get real. Several hundred local utilities are coming under strain and need support, according to the head of Germany’s largest energy lobby group. The companies, generally owned by municipalities, supply households and small businesses directly and are a key part of the …

  Bloomberg United Airlines Holdings Inc threatened to suspend service at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport unless federal regulators review runway use and allow the carrier to increase daily operations. The airport’s total flight capacity hasn’t changed since 2008, despite a widening of runways and other infrastructure improvements, United told employees in a memo about its plan. The …

Bloomberg News from several travel-related companies shows consumer spending is healthy. Demand is high, and the industry is rebounding as pandemic era troubles subside. United Airlines boosted its sales and margin outlooks, citing strong demand in the wake of a “robust” summer. Travel and tourism firm Sabre said air bookings and passengers boarded in late August reached the highest levels …

  Bloomberg Employees at Boeing Co and other manufacturers will be given new protections against company interference as federal regulators continue to tighten oversight of aircraft development following a pair of crashes of 737 Max jets. The latest rules apply to engineers who are deputised by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to review the safety of aircraft designs. Any …

  Bloomberg Associated British Foods Plc (AB Foods) warned profit will decline in the next fiscal year as rising energy costs and the strengthening of the dollar weigh on the Primark value fashion chain. The UK conglomerate said Primark, which generates most of the group’s profit, is experiencing unprecedented volatility and its operating margin will fall next year, despite recent …

  Bloomberg Rakesh Gangwal, the billionaire co-founder of India’s largest airline by market value, has offered to sell part of his family’s stake in IndiGo for around $250 million, possibly putting to rest a three-year old dispute between the owners. The Gangwal family is offering as many as 10.8 million shares in InterGlobe Aviation Ltd. at a floor price of …