News, with a practical perspective.

We link to the original sources below. Sections labelled “Sandycroft analysis” contain our interpretation and practical suggestions. Product and service links are commercial suggestions from Sandycroft, separate from the source reporting.

SOURCED NEWS SUMMARY

The news

The Office for National Statistics reported on 21 October that the Consumer Prices Index rose by 3.5% in the 12 months to September 2026, up from 3.1% in August. CPIH, which includes owner occupiers’ housing costs, rose by 3.6%. Transport, particularly motor fuels, made the largest upward contribution to the change in the annual rates; restaurants and hotels made the largest partially offsetting downward contribution. Clothing and footwear prices rose 2.2% during September, but their CPIH annual rate was 0.1%. Those figures describe consumer-price categories across the UK, not the exact cost movement in any one supplier’s workwear, print or embroidery quote.

The British Chambers of Commerce responded the same morning that inflation remained the leading concern in its latest survey of more than 4,000 firms, cited by 60% of respondents. Its comments and Budget requests are advocacy, not announced policy. Neither the ONS release nor the BCC response says that every business should raise prices, predicts a Bank of England decision, or measures Sandycroft’s own input costs.

SANDYCROFT ANALYSIS

Use the index as an alert, not a markup

A headline rate can tell an owner to look again, but it cannot supply the answer. Start with the last accepted order and compare like with like: garment specification, colour and size mix; embroidery stitch count or print method; artwork and setup; packing; collection or delivery; staff time; and any outsourced stage. Ask suppliers which line has changed and from what date. A fuel-led national movement may matter most to a delivery-heavy job, while a collection order or a repeat logo run could behave differently.

That distinction protects both margin and credibility. Adding 3.5% automatically to every quote can overcharge stable work and still underprice a job whose actual transport or production cost moved by more. Equally, holding an old total without checking its components can turn a busy order book into weak cash generation. Record the evidence beside the quote so the next review begins with facts rather than memory.

SANDYCROFT ANALYSIS

Make the customer choice visible

If a revised total is necessary, show the decision points without exposing confidential supplier terms. A customer may be able to change garment tier, reduce separate delivery drops, approve one consolidated size list, reuse suitable artwork, or split urgent and non-urgent quantities. Present alternatives on the same specification and state the quote-validity date. Do not describe a substitute garment, turnaround or print method as available until Sandycroft has confirmed it.

For embroidery and garment printing, the useful conversation is about the finished requirement rather than the blank item alone. Logo position, size, colour count, personal names and whether artwork is production-ready all affect the route through the job. For leaflets, price cards or event material, fix the version, quantity and deadline before comparing options. Promotional merchandise needs the same discipline: a defined audience, use, quantity and delivery point.

SANDYCROFT ANALYSIS

A practical review for this week

Take the ten most frequently quoted jobs and mark each cost line as confirmed, estimated or unchanged. Recheck any estimate that could alter acceptance, place an expiry date on new quotes, and nominate one person to update the working price sheet. Keep the old version and effective date so repeat customers receive an explanation that can be traced.

Then review results rather than assumptions: quote acceptance, gross margin after delivery, rework, late artwork and the number of orders needing a second delivery. The objective is not to react dramatically to one monthly bulletin. It is to identify where inflation is genuinely entering the order, give the customer a clear choice, and avoid promising a saving or service that the evidence does not support.

CHECK THE ORIGINAL REPORTING

Sources & dates