THE DAILY BRIEFING

PRICE DIP Prices in the US fell in March for the first time in 13 months as declining costs for petrol and mobile phone services offset rising rents and food prices. The Consumer Price Index dropped 0.3pc, the first decline since February 2016. That lowered year-onyear inflation to 2.4pc from 2.7pc in February. Retail sales fell 0.2pc last month.

ALITALIA PLEA Italian prime minister Paolo Gentiloni urged Alitalia workers to approve a compromise reached in last- ditch negotiations between unions and management to relaunch Alitalia, Italy’s struggling flagship airline. The deal reduces proposed job and salary cuts and calls for greater investment in long-range routes that analysts say are critical for survival. It is to be put to a referendum of Alitalia workers next week. Gentiloni said: ‘I hope it’s confirmed by the workers. The government hasn’t spared any effort to find an agreed-upon turnaround plan.’

PET PAYOUTS A record £1.8m is being paid out in pet insurance claims every day according to industry figures. The Association of British Insurers said its members paid out a record £706m in 2016. The cost of an average claim has topped £750 for the first time to reach £757, up from £721 in 2015.

EXPAT FUNERALS British funeral planner Avalon has begun tapping the market for expatriate Germans and Italians. It offers pre-planned funeral services to British clients living in the EU and is now looking ‘at other markets in Europe to ensure it continues sustainability’.

E-BIKES BOOM Approximately one in 25 adult bikes sold in the UK is now electric, a major retailer has estimated, as manufacturers report soaring interest. Halfords has predicted that e-bikes will be its fastest growing category this year and has launched an extended range to meet demand. David Wood of Electrifying Cycles, a specialist retailer in Norfolk, said his own sales were up 50pc on last year, and he understood an estimated 80,000 e-bikes had been sold in the UK over the last 12 months.