UK business activity spikes but job losses accelerate September 3, 2020 UK business activity grew rapidly in August as the country recovered from the coronavirus lockdown, but job losses in the private sector accelerated. The IHS Markit/CIPS Composite Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), a monthly gauge of activity in services and manufacturing companies, rose to a six-year high of 59.1 from 57.0 in July. Still, that was [...]
Revolution Bars sales beat expectations on Eat Out to Help Out boost September 3, 2020 Revolution Bars today reported trading ahead of expectations since venues reopened in July as the government’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme boosted sales. The bar chain said sales in the eight weeks since reopening were 27.5 per cent lower than the same period last year. However, this was ahead of previous forecasts — based [...]
UK retailers ramp up online operations but warn of further store closures September 3, 2020 UK retailers are ramping up their e-commerce operations to meet the increasing demand for online shopping during the coronavirus pandemic, but warned of further physical store closures. The latest research showed that 15 per cent of UK retailers have created roles specifically to cater to the boom in digital sales and to boost online capacity, [...]
London retail closures drive UK vacancy rate to six-year high September 3, 2020 Retail store vacancies have risen to the highest level in more than six years due to a swathe of closures during the coronavirus pandemic, with London faring the worst out of all UK regions. The UK vacancy rate climbed to 10.8 per cent in July from 9.8 per cent in January, taking it to the [...]
London theatres call for ticket discount scheme to revive West End September 2, 2020 London’s theatres have backed calls for the government to fund a discount scheme similar to the Eat Out to Help Out offer to encourage audiences to return to the West End. The Centre for London, a think tank focused on the capital, has urged the government to introduce culture vouchers to bring visitors back to [...]
Travel sector pleads for government support to stave off sweeping job cuts September 2, 2020 Leading figures from across the UK travel industry have come together in an urgent plea for government support to help stave off hundreds of thousands of potential job cuts. In an open letter to chancellor Rishi Sunak and transport secretary Grant Shapps, which has now been signed by over 10,000 people, the “Save Travel” campaign [...]
Computacenter shares at a record after tech retailer rides working-from-home wave September 2, 2020 Shares in office technology retailer Computacenter surged more than 14 per cent today after a bullish statement on its most-recent trading. The rise in Computacenter shares, up 14.88 per cent to 2,316p per share, followed a surprise trading update which cemented the retailer as one of the few winners from lockdown. Even better for Computacenter [...]
Eat Out to Help Out: Diner numbers soar on bumper Bank Holiday Monday September 2, 2020 The number of consumers dining out soared on Bank Holiday Monday as Brits rushed to make the most of the last day of the Eat Out to Help Out discount scheme. Figures showed that the number of seated diners in the UK was up 216.3 per cent on 31 August compared to the same day [...]
Lego sales surge as housebound families play during lockdown September 2, 2020 Lego sales surged in the first half of the year as housebound families spent more time playing games during coronavirus lockdowns. Sales were up 14 per cent in the first six months of 2020 compared to the same period last year due to a jump in demand as more people stayed at home during the [...]
Camden Market teams up with Curzon to launch new pop-up cinema September 2, 2020 Camden Market will host a pop-up cinema in its North Yard to help entice visitors back to the historic market. Labtech, owner of Camden Market, has signed a deal with for a pop-up cinema that will premiere on 16 September. The pop-up cinema has room for 150 viewers and will operate seven days a week until [...]