MAY TRADE NEWS Warehouse complex proposed for Peterborough Local authorities urged to help businesses improve recycling Business leaders lose faith in the Labour government Sole traders join forces on the Isle of Wight FPB calls for government to cancel fuel duty increase Consumers get better protection from rogue traders Health and beauty sector will grow despite economic slowdown Credit crunch hits wholesale and retail businesses' cash flows CBI reports manufacturers expect to increase prices Businesses attack new agency worker rules Credit crunch 'has not stopped owners selling their businesses' BRC stresses UK firms do not use exploitative suppliers OFT targets retailers who claim to be closing Carbon Trust urged to support small firms London business buck trend as sales increase Bank charges 'could harm small business Small businesses 'could be hurt by extended flexible working rules' BRC reports gloomy sales figures Businesses urged to embrace rail network Business pessimistic about economic future Fuel duty rises 'should be postponed to help businesses and consumers' Report calls for better government support of small businesses Businesses asked for bribes to win contracts Small businesses hit by staff absences Small businesses 'turn to older employees to plug skills gap' Businesses warned of continuing economic slowdown Tories pledge to support small suppliers and local businesses Continuity plans 'vital for small firms' Manufacturers force to pass rising costs on to customers Oxfordshire Retailers Flex Their Muscle FSB steps up campaign to protect local suppliers Small firms 'are turning to bridging loans to maintain cash flows' Government looks to help business by streamlining consumer laws Business disappointed by interest rate hold Shop prices 'only rising slowly' Postal competition 'has not helped small wholesalers' Small firms are turning to bridging loans to maintain cash flows South-west's roads 'need to be improved to help wholesalers' Retailers see April increase in shoppers Government urged to involve small firms in tax forum Good online retail practice satisfies customers Small retailers urged to embrace gift card schemes Commission inquiry not doing enough for small retailers Hornby buys model car maker Corgi Trade News Archive May 08 April 08 March 08 February 08 January 08 Subscribe to our newsletter   Go to The Wholesaler UK Directory 19th May 2008 Fuel duty rises 'should be postponed to help businesses and consumers' The government has been urged to scrap plans to increase the proposed 2p fuel duty rise in October. New figures from the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) have shown that the rising price of oil means that the government has already generated a windfall tax of £505 million since the beginning of the tax year on April 1st. According to the BCC, this is as much as the proposed fuel duty rise would generate after it is introduced in October. As a result, the organisation has called on minister to scrap the increase to help both businesses and consumers. David Frost, director general of the BCC, explained: "The rising cost of petrol is hitting everybody hard, not just businesses. Seeing the fuel gauge barely move when you put in £20 is frustrating and only going to get worse. "With the Treasury estimates on what it would bring in on fuel tax woefully out of line with reality, this £505 million windfall in less than two months must surely rule out the 2p rise scheduled for October. It is simply unjustifiable." In April, the Freight Transport Association reported that the rising cost of diesel now represents a major cause of concern for every UK business supplying goods and services.   (c) 2008 Adfero Ltd.