UK property listings drop by a fifth in November as London scores zero December 9, 2015 New property listings dropped by more than a fifth across the UK in November, with not one London borough recording a rise in supply, new research shows. The number of new homes on the market dropped by 21.5 per cent, according to the latest Property Supply Index by online estate agents HouseSimple.com, marking the biggest drop [...]
Homewares and fashion retailer The White Company rockets ahead with an almost doubling of profits December 8, 2015 Furniture, clothing and homewares retailer The White Company yesterday reported an almost doubling of profits for the full year ended 28 March. Operating profits rose to £12.8m from £6.5m in the same period the previous year – an increase of 97 per cent. Total sales were up 13.8 per cent to £163.6m, from £143.8m previously. [...]
Where is the love? City workers are losing their mojos ahead of the Christmas holidays December 8, 2015 It's hard enough trying to find the “one” when you work in the City, but it’s now becoming even harder. According to BBC Radio 1 DJ Scott Mills, next week is the universally acknowledged Relationship Transfer Deadline Day. It’s too cruel to break up with someone during the holidays, so if you’re planning on binning [...]
Dreaming of a purple Christmas? Ukip’s got you covered December 8, 2015 Everyone knows one person who is just impossible to buy for, making Christmas shopping seem more like the Nightmare on Elm Street than a stroll on Oxford Street. But fret no more: the UK Independence Party has you covered. For just gearing up for Christmas, send loved ones a festive card – at the Ukip store you can get 10 cards for [...]
Christmas adverts 2015: How Germany’s Edeka Heimkommen advert has beaten John Lewis and Sainsbury’s to claim the festive crown (so far) December 8, 2015 Put your telescope away, send your cat to its bed and tear up your lottery ticket – the Christmas ads race has taken yet another unexpected turn with a new frontrunner pulling into pole position. And the intrepid hero at the helm of this two million share behemoth? A kindly old man. No, not that [...]
Severe delays as services between London Bridge, Charing Cross and Cannon Street fall victim to “complete loss of signalling” – as DLR is beset by delays and Elephant & Castle traffic returns December 8, 2015 Services between London Bridge, Charing Cross and Cannon Street were disrupted this morning – as passengers were soaked waiting for trains. Train operator Southeastern said there was "severe disruption" on routes to and from Charing Cross and Cannon Street after a "complete loss of signalling" at London Bridge. There were also cancellations between New Cross and London Bridge [...]
Hornby sales slide – but Christmas trading starts well December 8, 2015 Not a great start to the Christmas period for toy manufacturer Hornby, as it unveiled sliding sales and bigger loss. But it has a cunning plan… The figures Group sales fell to £22.3m in the six months to the end of September, down from £24.2m during the same period last year. Meanwhile, statutory losses rose from £500,000 last year to £4.5m. But [...]
Your new must-have gadget is already in your attic – CNBC Comment December 8, 2015 It’s finally happened. As well as my ever-expanding waistline and retreating hairline, there’s been an important development in my life. In the last few weeks, a sizeable chunk of wall space in my living room has been taken up by a collection of 12-inch LPs, and a rather weighty hi-fidelity music system complete with a [...]
Grounded: Business groups slam UK government over delays to decision on London airport expansion December 8, 2015 Business groups have slammed the government over signals a final decision on airport expansion will not be made until at least next year. “Businesses across the UK will be astonished if the government once again delays taking a decision on a new runway,” said British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) director general John Longworth. “Ministers’ plans [...]
UK retail sales: Online Black Friday bonanza steals limelight away from the high street December 8, 2015 High street retailers lost out in November, with sales falling into the red, as online retailers enticing shoppers with Black Friday bargains stole the show. Like-for-like retail sales fell by 0.4 per cent last month compared with November last year, when they had increased 0.9 per cent from the preceding year, according to figures released [...]