Retail sales edge up – but goods are still getting cheaper November 20, 2014 Retail sales have continued their upwards trajectory for the 19th month in a row – but it appears to be largely driven by falling prices and discounting. Figures published this morning by the Office for National Statistics show that consumer spending in October increased by 2.8 per cent year-on-year, but the amount of goods [...]
The growing problem of obesity: Almost half the global population will be overweight by 2030 November 20, 2014 The world is eating more and doing less. The result? Our waistlines are rapidly expanding. In fact, almost half the world will be overweight or obese by 2030 if we allow our self-indulgence to continue along its current trajectory. According to a report by McKinsey, 2.1bn people fall into the “overweight” category, which [...]
Fitness diary November 17, 2014 It’s almost six months since I finished a 10-week intensive fitness programme. Before I started I wasn’t exactly over-weight – although I was filling-out around the midriff – but I was certainly out of shape. I could count on one hand the number of times I’d been to the gym in the preceding 15 years [...]
How we can turn London’s thriving tech startups into billion dollar digital giants November 16, 2014 Just four years after the Prime Minister and the mayor of London launched the Tech City initiative, London now has one of the fastest growing technology sectors in the world. Visitors to any of its tech hubs will be struck by the industry and dynamism of the capital’s entrepreneurs and startups, driving innovation and change. [...]
Thinking bigger: My Voucher Codes founder Mark Pearson talks Fern Britton and young tech entrepreneurs November 16, 2014 While we’re talking, it suddenly dawns on Mark Pearson that it’s his company’s eighth birthday. “It’s definitely around now,” he laughs, raising his empty plastic water cup in the air. In June of this year, Pearson sold My Voucher Codes, as part of his parent company Markco Media, to global mobile money technology provider [...]
48 hours in… Bath November 16, 2014 WHERE TO STAY Savour premium whiskies in the hidden terrace gardens of the Queensberry Hotel, which is set in a quartet of historic Georgian townhouses. It’s only a short stroll from the city centre and the food is great too; thequeensberry.co.uk WHERE TO GO When in Bath, do as the Bathonians do, which obviously involves [...]
YoYo, Soul, Eggy and Wooky: Meet LG’s weird, gimmicky new Aka smartphones November 12, 2014 YoYo, Soul, Eggy and Wooky – they might sound like an updated version of the Teletubbies, but they’re actually LG’s new line of “Aka” smartphones. The names are nowhere near as weird as it gets. Each phone comes with a “personality” – for pink YoYo that’s a lady who eats too much (her weight [...]
What is China’s Singles Day? Alibaba nears record-breaking billion-dollar sales target in one day November 11, 2014 The 11th day of the 11th month has a very different meaning in China – in case you haven't heard, today is Singles Day, because of the combination of two 'ones'. But having initially been a day for young singles to meet future partners, and also eat lots of deep fried dough sticks and dumplings, [...]
Now there’s an “Uber for laundry” for Londoners as Rocket Internet launches ZipJet November 4, 2014 Calling all those who hate doing laundry (that’s most of us) or those too lazy to get their washing done (students). There's now a solution to your problem which means you can spend more time with your feet up, rather than matching up odd socks. A new app has launched in London that offers pick-up [...]
Just Eat’s third quarter orders soar as takeaway firm delivers November 3, 2014 ONLINE takeaway food service Just Eat saw orders jump by more than half from July to September, leaving chief executive David Buttress “very pleased” with the company’s third quarter performance. On a like-for-like basis, the company yesterday said in an interim management statement that orders had increased by 51 per cent in the third quarter. [...]