A drive to improve the quality of its houses slowed sales and knocked profits at the UK’s second largest housebuilder Persimmon in the first half of the year.

Discount retailer Aldi reported a fall in its UK profits today as the supermarket price war there took its toll on earnings despite sales surging to a new record level.

Food suppliers and farmers are increasingly being squeezed by the supermarket price war in the UK, according to a new report.