What the war in Ukraine means for food, fuel, trade and work in Greater Manchester - coming after Covid and Brexit

Business experts have given an in-depth and fascinating insight into the current state of Greater Manchester's economy and jobs market, revealing for the first time what impact the Russian invasion of Ukraine is expected to have on life and bank balances across the region.

They describe how the continuing fall-out from the war will be felt on the shelves of supermarkets - just one of many everyday examples of how the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Eastern Europe is affecting life in the UK.

One expert, Dr Gordon Fletcher, said the volatility of fuel prices - and costs in general - together with a sense of 'uncertainty' the conflict has brought and other factors has led to 'a mix of multiple issues coming together at the same time in an entirely negative way'.

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And Subrahmaniam Krishnan-Harihara, head of research at Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, said sanctions imposed on Russia would almost certainly affect the supply of commodities, fertiliser and food here.

In a special report for the Manchester Evening News , we asked Mr Krishnan-Harihara and Dr Fletcher, a retail and business expert at the University of Salford Business School, to weigh up the region's economy against the backdrop of the war, Covid and Brexit.

The Chamber say inflation is expected to peak at close to 8 per cent, describing it as the concern for households and business. Mr Krishnan-Harihara said: "In April 2021, crude oil was averaging $60 a barrel. It is now $102. As a result, energy and fuel prices are high. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has delivered both an economic and geopolitical