Christmas sales were a moment of reprieve as high streets play whac-a-mole February 2, 2023 Even the biggest retailers were severely dented by the pandemic, strikes, inflation and rising energy costs. It might be a game of whac-a-mole, but the high street is ready for another year, writes Richard Curry.
Christmas strikes: Government sends in 1,200 troops to replace workers December 18, 2022 Around 1,200 members of the military and 1,000 civil servants are being sent in by the government to cover striking ambulance drivers and Border Force staff. The staff will be deployed to minimise disruption throughout the rest of the month as more key sector workers go on strike. Up to 10,000 ambulance staff will go [...]
Christmas getaway: Five million Brits to travel during festive period December 18, 2022 Around five million Britons are expected to travel during this festive period, according to recent data. Figures published by trade body ABTA have shown that 640,000 people will leave from Stansted while 470,000 from Luton over the Christmas period. Gatwick will welcome hundreds of thousands of travellers, while Heathrow will see at least three million [...]
City eyes final economic data before Christmas shut down December 18, 2022 Although investors will be readying to get away over the Christmas break, there are a few economic data sets to get through before the City shuts down. Last week, London’s FTSE 100 index slumped nearly two per cent to close at 7,332.12 points as traders were bombarded by a barrage of global economic news. FTSE [...]
Pinot Noir: Why this classy grape should be your christmas wine December 15, 2022 There is something special about Pinot Noir. Beloved the world over, it has been referred to as “the heart break grape” due to its exacting demands on those growing it. It was immortalised in the film Sideways by the lead character’s impassioned speech: “Pinot needs constant care and attention, you know? And in fact, it [...]
Network Rail Christmas strike to go on as workers reject pay offer December 12, 2022 The strikes planned on Network Rail over the Christmas period are set to go on as members of the union RMT have rejected the company’s latest pay offer. Thousands of rail workers will walk out between 6pm on Christmas Eve and 6am on 27 December, disrupting planned engineering works. This will be in addition to [...]
Christmas chaos: Sunak threatens new widespread strike-busting laws December 7, 2022 Rishi Sunak is now looking at new widespread strike-busting legislation as the UK gets ready for a winter of disruption. Sunak announced during Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) today that “I have been working for new tough laws to protect people from” increasing strike action, with Number 10 announcing they will go beyond transport strikes. Number [...]
Currys’ share price up after ‘better-than-expected’ Christmas trading January 18, 2023 Currys’ share price has spiked more than seven per cent, after it told investors this morning its Christmas profits were better than expected. The technology retailer reported better than forecast profits over the Christmas period, with sales in the UK offsetting a slow down in Scandinavia. The company said UK trade rose in the 10 [...]
RMT announces three more days of rail strikes over Christmas December 5, 2022 The union RMT has announced three more days of strike over Christmas as it put Network Rail’s offer to its members with the recommendation to reject it. Workers are set to walk out from 6pm on Christmas Eve to 6am on 27 December. This will be in addition to the planned industrial action on 13, [...]
UK businesses fear supply chain chaos will ruin Christmas trading December 5, 2022 UK businesses are anxious that supply chain chaos and soaring costs that have punctuated this year will scupper the lucrative Christmas trading period, a new survey out late last night revealed. Nearly half of British firms are concerned about the rising cost of sourcing materials to produce products, making it the most common problem businesses [...]