Christmas travel chaos: Train strikes, wind warnings and congestion December 23, 2024 Brits have been warned of significant travel disruption over the Christmas and New Year getaway as record numbers hit the roads.
UK retail sales rise slightly in November amid concern over golden quarter December 20, 2024 The latest ONS data showed retail sales jumped 0.2 per cent last month, following a 0.7 per cent fall in October.
Digital skills are key to staying connected at Christmas December 20, 2024 The generation that invented the web should not be isolated from its possibilities, says Victoria Johnson A 65 year-old today was 30 when the world wide web launched. It is this generation who have contributed most to the development of the technology that underpins life as we know it today. And while ONS data shows they are [...]
Why you shouldn’t give to charity this Christmas December 20, 2024 You wouldn’t make all of your investment decisions in the last few days of the year, but that’s when most people make their charitable donations. It’s not effective philanthropy and it doesn’t help the charities themselves either, says Gilad Tanay It’s Christmas season. In London, that generally means a few things: last-minute present shopping, filling [...]
Should investors ho-ho-hope for a FTSE 100 Santa rally? December 10, 2024 Investors in the FTSE 100 are holding out hope for a Santa rally in the second half of December as markets gear up for some Christmas cheer. “December often delivers investors a festive treat in the form of a Santa rally,” explained Danni Hewson, AJ Bell head of financial analysis. While the famed “Santa rally” doesn’t [...]
Post Office predicts record-high £1bn in cash withdrawals ahead of Christmas December 10, 2024 The Post Office is predicting a record-high number of personal cash withdrawals this month, reaching upwards of £1bn. The prediction exceeds last year’s record-breaking numbers during the festive shopping season, with December 2023 seeing a total of £930m in cash withdrawals. A total of £916m in personal cash was withdrawn in November, the latest figures [...]
Pubs pin hopes on Christmas trading period amid post-Budget woes December 9, 2024 The UK’s hospitality industry is gearing up for a bumper festive season, the first in four years not to be affected by pandemic restrictions or transport strikes. The preparations come ahead of what is seen as one of the busiest times of year for pub operators across the country, a number of whom hope to [...]
Small Business Saturday hopes to bring back confidence ahead of new year December 6, 2024 Small Business Saturday could boost business confidence this year if Brits once again flock to the streets and show their support, a leading campaign group has said. The hope comes ahead of this year’s Small Business Saturday UK on 7 December, an annual campaign created to encourage consumer engagement with the local high street ahead [...]
Marston’s rings in Christmas bookings as profit jumps in ‘defining year’ December 3, 2024 Pub operator Marston’s has surpassed market expectations as pre-Christmas bookings begin to introduce hope for another bumper year of trade. The Wolverhampton-headquartered firm told markets this morning that its total revenue for the year ending 28 September, 2024, increased to £898.6m, up three per cent from £872.3m the prior 12 months. Pre-tax profit for Marston’s [...]
Retailers pin hopes on Black Friday and Christmas after footfall tumbles November 29, 2024 The holiday season could bring much more than some festive cheer this year.