Domestic cruises set to restart from 17 May March 9, 2021 Domestic cruises could restart in the UK along with the lifting of travel restrictions from 17 May, MPs were told today. Maritime minister Robert Courts told the All Party Parliamentary Maritime and Ports Group that such trips could restart along with domestic holidays from that date. A statement from the Department for Transport confirmed that [...]
UK GDP falls in Q1 but Sunak confident in recovery after March rebound May 12, 2021 Britain’s economy grew by a stronger-than-expected 2.1 per cent in March, picking up speed in what Chancellor Rishi Sunak expects to be a sharp economic comeback. The monthly growth beat economists’ predictions of a 1.3 per cent leap, the Office for National Statistics said this morning. “Despite a difficult start to this year, economic growth [...]
Exclusive: Business owners on how the recovery is playing out on the ground March 15, 2021 This morning it was announced that the rapid rollout of Covid-19 vaccines has led to business confidence hitting its highest levels in three years. According to IHS Markit’s global business outlook survey, business confidence now stands at +32 per cent, up from +26 per cent in October. The increase has been driven by the success [...]
Unease about economic outlook grows as rising prices fuel stagflation concerns September 20, 2021 The last few weeks has seen equity markets struggle to make gains of any significant size, and all the while concerns have been rising about a number of different factors. The lack of a clear narrative, whether it be positive or negative, has seen markets churn in both directions since July, with any number of [...]
The travel industry has been abandoned by this government December 23, 2020 The tourism and outbound travel industries are certainly no strangers to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Across the globe, international and domestic travel has been brought to its knees by the far-reaching impacts of coronavirus, and the ramifications are no clearer than in the United Kingdom. In the last few months alone, we have [...]
Travel Special: Pandemic leaves islanders on isolated Mauritius ‘fighting to work’ October 18, 2021 Tourism industry workers in Mauritius have urged UK holidaymakers to return to the island after being left “fighting” for jobs due to the worldwide pandemic. The Indian Ocean island allowed travellers to return on October 1, with many islanders describing the tourism industry as “essential” for them to survive. The country still enforces the wearing [...]
Dettol-maker reaps benefits of hygiene kick as revenue soars February 24, 2021 Reckitt Benckiser has emerged strongly from the pandemic with like-for-like revenue leaping 11.8 per cent to £14bn in 2020 compared to the previous year. Full year operating profit hit more than £2.1bn compared to a loss of almost £2bn in 2019. The consumer-goods company, which owns Dettol, Harpic and Calgon, reported a 19.5 per cent [...]
Virgin Atlantic launches two ‘vaccine passport’ trials March 26, 2021 Virgin Atlantic today said that it would launch two parallel digital health certificate – or “vaccine passport” – trials as more carriers turn their attention to restarting international travel. The Sir Richard Branson-founded airline said it would trial global aviation body IATA’s smartphone app on trips from the UK to Barbados from 16 April. It [...]
US jobs: Trump’s economy beats expectations to add 128,000 workers November 1, 2019 Sterling’s rise was cut short today by US jobs data that beat expectations, pushing the dollar higher as America added 128,000 jobs to its economy in October. The pound, which came close to hitting $1.30 earlier on a weak dollar, curbed its climb to stand 0.22 per cent up at $1.296 while the dollar rose [...]
Decline in fashion sales slows as online shoppers prepare for lockdown lifting March 5, 2021 The decline in fashion retail sales slowed last month as online shoppers snapped up outfits for the end of the coronavirus lockdown. Total like-for-like sales -including the impact of closed non-essential stores – declined 3.1 per cent in February but fashion and homeware helped drive online sales up 167.3 per cent to a record high. [...]