Grocery sales on track for bumper Christmas after reaching record high in November December 8, 2020 November was the largest month ever for the UK’s grocery market as out of home socialising was restricted by a second national lockdown, figures show. Market researcher Kantar said grocery sales rose 11.3 per cent in the 12 months to 29 November and climbed 13.9 per cent year-on-year in the last four weeks. Last month [...]
National Lottery minimum age to rise to 18 amid new gambling review December 8, 2020 The government will increase the minimum age to play the National Lottery from 16 to 18 next Autumn and has launched a major review of gambling laws to make sure they are fit for the age of smartphone and in-play betting. Ministers will weigh up whether online restrictions like stake and spend limits and extra [...]
Consumer spending rises ahead of Christmas but retailers still feeling the pinch December 8, 2020 Early Christmas shopping helped boost consumer spending last month but lockdown restrictions continued to hit retailers. Spending dropped 1.9 per cent last month as restrictions took effect but spending on essential items climbed 4.9 per cent, according to the latest data from Barclaycard. Supermarkets enjoyed a 17.9 per cent rise in sales with a staggering [...]
Universal Music buys rights to more than 600 Bob Dylan songs December 7, 2020 Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) has snapped up Bob Dylan's entire catalog of songs
Sadiq Khan calls for Sunak to U-turn on scrapping VAT exemption for tourists December 7, 2020 Sadiq Khan has added his voice to the chorus of figures calling for Rishi Sunak to U-turn on his decision to scrap the UK’s VAT exemption for tourists. Khan today said the move would be “hugely counter-productive” as the UK economy recovers from the Covid crisis next year and that revenue lost from the change [...]
Londoners rush back to the shops as lockdown ends December 7, 2020 Londoners rushed back to the capital’s shopping destinations this weekend as people across the country welcomed the end of lockdown with some much needed retail therapy. Data from market research firm Springboard showed that across all UK retail destinations footfall increased 93.5 per cent on Saturday. There was an especially large surge in shoppers in [...]
Kingfisher joins supermarkets in returning business rates relief December 7, 2020 DIY retailer Kingfisher has joined a list of retailers announcing plans to repay millions in business rates relief it received at the start of the pandemic. The FTSE 100 firm has announced it will pay back £130m in tax relief, pointing to strong sales since it reopened its UK stores in April amid high demand [...]
Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group confirms Debenhams rescue talks December 7, 2020 Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group confirmed it is in negotiations with Debenhams for a potential rescue deal, a week after the department store fell into administration. In a statement this morning, Frasers Group confirmed it is in talks with Debenhams’ administrators “regarding a potential rescue transaction”. It came with the caveat that there was little time [...]
Ted Baker’s losses deepen as coronavirus hits retailer December 7, 2020 Fashion retailer Ted Baker’s losses deepened in the first half of the year as coronavirus took a heavy toll on the UK firm’s business. Ted Baker’s reported operating loss before tax was £86.4m in the six months ended 8 August, down from a loss of £23m in the same period a year earlier. Underlying losses [...]
Sazka backs move to increase age to play UK lottery, in battle with Camelot to run gambling December 7, 2020 Sazka backs move to increase age to play UK lottery, in battle with Camelot to run gambling
