Rachel Reeves (pictured) has been warned that her hated £25 billion increase raid on employers' national insurance contributions (NICs) will send job creation in the 'wrong direction'.
The hat-trick of gloomy signs about the state of the economy came as the Chancellor prepared to reveal worsening official forecasts in today's Spring Statement.
Phil Halliday, boss of the high street chain, told The Mail on Sunday that demand for the cards has become so intense that even its delivery vans are being targeted.
In a stark letter to the Chancellor, the nine major grocers said growing cost pressures meant grocery prices had been rising over the past year and were expected to rise further.