Phil Cook wrote:

>  From what I recall profit-wise Tesco operates at about 4%, Sainsbury's 
> at 3%, Asda at 2%, and Lidl etc. at 1%. That's overall of course some 
> products are higher than others.

It would be interesting to know which items are their loss-leaders... ;-)

>> Also, I was under the impression that *all* food prices have gone up. 
> 
> While at the same time some supermarkets are advertising that they're 
> lowering prices. Which as I believe I've mentioned elsewhere doesn't 
> engender a feeling of warmth from me more so a query of why they 
> couldn't do that when everything was 'cheaper'?

I just find it interesting that shops of all kinds are *always* 
advertising that their prices are going down and down and down. So, 
like, why didn't you do this sooner? (And besides, as far as *I* can 
tell, the actual prices rise and fall more or less at random, and they 
only advertise the ones that have fallen. I'm surprised that's legal...)

> To simplify things down it's about confidence or the lack thereof.

Heh, and I thought that only *I* had serious issues due to lack of 
confidence. ;-)

> All the banks are cleaning house and 
> ensuring they have enough liquid assets to cover their own arses because 
> they can't trust anyone to provide them with loans.

I'm begining to wonder whether the banks' product is actually *money* or 
just *confidence*. :-P

> Yes the recent fuel-tanker drivers strike demonstrates that nicely - 
> petrol stations across the country had enough fuel to last it out until 
> everyone decided to top up their tanks "just in case" and then acted 
> smug when the stations did start to run out.

Does it worry anybody *else* here that when all the oil runs out in 10 
years' time, the nations of the world are basically going to have a 
global thermonuclear war over the rights to the last remaining few drops?

I mean, theoretically some alternative might be found. But let's face 
it, do you invest years in R&D? Or do you just bomb the hell out of the 
people who've got what you want? Gee, let me think...

I'm a little concerned that I'm likely to whitness the end of the world 
in my own lifetime. :-(

Post a reply to this message