CBI Distributive Trades Survey: The run-up to Christmas has been less than merry for disappointed retailers December 21, 2015 Sales growth in the run-up to Christmas has been below retailers' expectations, new figures have shown – despite being above average for the time of years. The Confederation of British Industry's (CBI) Distributive Trades Survey showed 43 per cent of retailers said sales volumes in December were up on the same period last year, against [...]
Last minute Christmas shopping could lead to £1.3bn being spent on UK high streets, and that’s not the end of it: get ready for the Boxing Day and New Year sales December 21, 2015 If you've left your Christmas shopping to the last minute, you're not alone. Britons will spend £1.3bn on 23 December alone, which is set to be the busiest day on the high street. Expect crowds. Shoppers will make 37 million in-store transactions on Wednesday, up 10 per cent from 2014, and total spending is predicted to rise by three [...]
This London WWII shelter is being brought back to life by Transport for London December 21, 2015 A long-abandoned Tube station bomb shelter used by Londoners during the Second World War will be brought back to life and turned into a new cafe and events space. The grade II listed building connected to Clapham South Tube station and overlooking Clapham Common hides eight deep-level air-raid shelters and connecting tunnels beneath that would have held 8,000 Londoners in the Blitz. The [...]
EU referendum: Lord Michael Heseltine warns of a “civil war” in the Conservative party if ministers are given a free vote December 21, 2015 If Prime Minister David Cameron allows his cabinet ministers a free vote in the European Union referendum division will ensue that could spark a "civil war" in the Conservative party, Lord Michael Heseltine has warned. Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Heseltine said that if Cameron did choose to let ministers vote with their consciences [...]
By redefining the list of public securities eligible for purchase through the QE back door, the ECB has transformed the euro rescue mechanisms into a Ponzi scheme December 21, 2015 Before and after Mario Draghi’s last press conference, the professional public focused on the scale and duration of the Public Sector Purchase Programme (PSPP). Meanwhile, critical observers of the ECB had already taken a close look at the inner workings of the programme. Interestingly enough, the ECB from the very beginning of QE, made it clear [...]
Three things we learned about Apple from Tim Cook on 60 Minutes – Tax “crap”, encryption and China December 21, 2015 Tim Cook has made a rare media appearance talking everything Apple, from tax to China, on CBS's 60 Minutes show. The chief executive of the world's largest listed company with a market cap of more than half a billion dollars, set the record straight on several criticism's of the tech giant. Here's what he had [...]
Fiery festive infernos and attacking mistletoe berries: Here are six ways Christmas is trying to kill you December 21, 2015 A dystopian future is about to be upon us, in which trees spontaneously burst into flames, man-made machines run out of control and, trapped in small spaces and driven mad by cabin fever, humans turn against one another. This is not a drill. Christmas is almost here. Are you prepared for the health and health [...]
The number of UK coffee shops have more than doubled in the last decade December 21, 2015 The UK's love for coffee is booming, with the number of coffee shops more than doubling in the last decade. A new report shows there are now 20,728 outlets across the UK, one for every 3,000 people – up from 8,887 outlets in the UK ten years ago. The study, by Allegra Strategies, also found that [...]
Want Christmas to last all year? You could buy a house on Holly Street for £194,465 December 21, 2015 If you want your Christmas spirit to last all year, try investing in a property on Christmas Lane or Holly Street – they'll be more affordable, and closer to the shops than the North Pole. Fewer pesky reindeer grazing outside, too. Data from Knight Frank has revealed the most popular festive street names include Holly, while the most [...]
The Apprentice 2015 final: Five things we learned from winner Joseph Valente (and loser Vana Koutsomitis) December 21, 2015 Lord Sugar’s decision between “fixing broken hearts or broken boilers” underlines the gulf between the business plans – and personalities – of The Apprentice finalists Joseph Valente and Vana Koutsomitis. In opting for plumbing over play dates, Valente over Vana, Lord Sugar showed his trademark no-nonsense approach tinged with an element of risk, as the plumbing sector is new to [...]