Retail sales in 2020 'worst for 25 years'
12/01/2021
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A slump in demand for fashion and homeware during lockdown left many retailers struggling.
Sadly I doubt this will happen. People in this country will always want a car with a badge, clothes with a label etc to try and be Posh and Becks and to keep up with the neighbours. Maxing out credit cards to keep up. Me me me culture here in UK...
Indeed
I'm no Hippy Happy Clapper Mother Earth type but sometimes it does feel like Covid coming into existence was the Planet's way of dealing with overpopulation, CO2 emissions and wasteful behaviour by the Human Race
I'm no Hippy Happy Clapper Mother Earth type but sometimes it does feel like Covid coming into existence was the Planet's way of dealing with overpopulation, CO2 emissions and wasteful behaviour by the Human Race
Perhaps, although I suspect as soon as all the shops are open again the treasury will be desperate for us to get spending again on stuff we don't really need.
It was lockdown which caused the retail sector to suffer, not people buying too much stuff. I don't understand your point
Problem is, if we don't buy all this unnecessary tat, if we eat and drink out less and if we forgo other unnecessaries in the future, then how of earth are we going to find jobs for all the unskilled labour that will be made redundant?
Less stuff means less capitalism and consumerism... our 'elected officials' aren't about to let that happen.
7.8 billion population, half of which don't have enough to eat or clean water to drink.
covid and capitalism are mutually exclusive, capitalism cannot cope with a shutdown of the economy. It heightens inequality and now is a perfect opportunity for changing tack towards a better distribution of resources and more respect for Mother Earth.
There are too many people on the planet.
I don’t buy stuff and throw it away, unless it’s potato peelings etc
Has anyone noticed that the vast majority of people buying useless tat are women? Womens empowerment is great for business but is killing the planet among other things.
Everyone is skint, no expendable income, overdrafts, borrowed money. Capitilism's not working anymore...
Well said we don't need so much stuff especially electronics why can't they recycle with bins and take back for old electronics parts to make mone
I wonder if that's because all the shops have been forced to shut ?
who knew?
How much did it cost to produce a report stating the obvious?
Depends who did it and who was paying. If it was one of the Tory party's mates and it was paid for with our taxes then probably £1bn.
It would be nice if we could start the value things more in the long term - buying less, better quality stuff that lasts longer. It would mean things cost more, and the general public would need to help this along.
Saying that, I work in retail and its been a terribly sad time and extremely difficult for those employed in this industry, constantly threatened with losing our livelihoods
Saying that, I work in retail and its been a terribly sad time and extremely difficult for those employed in this industry, constantly threatened with losing our livelihoods
Companies and modern-day consumers will never allow this to happen sadly.
FOMO (Fear of missing out) is such an easy thing to exploit with young people, take these new Xbox's and PS5's for example, the games look a bit better + the loading times are quicker (a problem created only by it's predecessors), that is pretty much all it is yet people are desperate to shell out hundreds of pounds for it.
FOMO (Fear of missing out) is such an easy thing to exploit with young people, take these new Xbox's and PS5's for example, the games look a bit better + the loading times are quicker (a problem created only by it's predecessors), that is pretty much all it is yet people are desperate to shell out hundreds of pounds for it.
Thanks to Brexit even the tat is going to cost more.
To me it was not Brexit or Covid that has decimated the UK economy, it was the London Government who has decimated our economy, just remember that. Out of all of the countries in Europe as an example, it has been farcical what the London Government has done since Covid. Then we have the removal of freedom of speech online and other oppressive things being introduced by top 1% and Goverments, why?
London Government? Don't know what that means but, furlough kind of ruins your argument if your talking about economics. Uk Gov was first to approve vaccines and one of the first to produce one, the vaccine that holds all the cards around the world due to its transportability. This Gov secured enough vaccines, while the EU didn't. UK has vaccinated more people than every European country.
More like stick to the Mail and Express They’ll tell you the news you want to hear whether it’s true or not is a different matter
The High Street and retail in shops has been in decline for years with the rise in online purchasing, competitive nature of Supermarkets, high rents by retail landlords and high car parking prices set by Councils
Covid has accelerated this trend for the past 10 months and it's hard to see high street retail returning in popularity making job losses in this sector almost certain to continue
Covid has accelerated this trend for the past 10 months and it's hard to see high street retail returning in popularity making job losses in this sector almost certain to continue
I think the nature of high streets will continue to change - more cafes, services and small shops replacing department stores. But there's likely to be a big difference between high streets in large city centres and those in struggling towns. This disparity will continue to grow.
Did people have the hatred for supermarkets when they accelerated their relocation to out of town locations which absolutely decimated high street footfall or do we save it for Amazon?
Been retired for some 6 years, spent my professional career in property. In previous hard times, prime retail areas held their own or increased in value, secondary shops you prayed your tenant held on. Tertiary shops having had a variety of tenants, you know the ones, finally closed and remain vacant.
By the way retail rents are decided by supply and demand, not greedy retail landlords.
By the way retail rents are decided by supply and demand, not greedy retail landlords.
This has to be good for the environment.
The amount of disposable tat that litters the homes of all of us is shameful and a betrayal of future generations.
Let us try to take the positives out of lockdown. Lower emissions. Working from home. Fewer planes in the sky. Noise pollution down. Reconnecting with family.
The amount of disposable tat that litters the homes of all of us is shameful and a betrayal of future generations.
Let us try to take the positives out of lockdown. Lower emissions. Working from home. Fewer planes in the sky. Noise pollution down. Reconnecting with family.
Hang on......so you're telling me that when the shops are shut they sell less stuff?!? Groundbreaking!!
Us common folk needed this article to confirm such obviously ground breaking news... >.>
They won't if they transfer the stock online to sell back to warehouses
Independent local businesses need to be supported through the recovery. Lockdowns have driven a lot of business to Amazon and the supermarkets - the government needs to find a way to help create vibrant local economies across the country.
Why? Why aren’t those wanting to sell goods responsible for finding a way to do it?
No government gave Bezos start up advice.
No government gave Bezos start up advice.
Whilst that all sounds good, in reality "vibrant local economies" do not work in this day and age unless you have tourism in that particular area.
Amazon's hub a distribute method is much more environmental and economic which is what the Government is pushing for at present.
Amazon's hub a distribute method is much more environmental and economic which is what the Government is pushing for at present.
welcome to capitalism...
So much for our economy then
No surprise. People are not going to splash the cash while the fear of redundancy remains after furlough ends in April.
To me that is counter intuitive. It’s clear that many people are doing what you say. My approach would is to put something away for the lean times ahead.
So we are buying less things we don't really need.
Good for the environment
Good for people
But bad for a banking system that measures success by the growth in how much people borrow to spend on things they don't need
Good for the environment
Good for people
But bad for a banking system that measures success by the growth in how much people borrow to spend on things they don't need
Fewer?
Bezos' best day in 2020 saw his wealth increase $13bn.
People aren't buying less, they're buying the same differently.
Retail stores are closed ergo sales have fallen.
Groceries are up 5% while retail is down 5% suggesting people are spending the same, elsewhere.
People aren't buying less, they're buying the same differently.
Retail stores are closed ergo sales have fallen.
Groceries are up 5% while retail is down 5% suggesting people are spending the same, elsewhere.
yep
the cycle of debt and consumption needs breaking
not because money needs protecting or there's something morally bad about excess
but because there's an absolute in terms of how much planet allocation we got
the cycle of debt and consumption needs breaking
not because money needs protecting or there's something morally bad about excess
but because there's an absolute in terms of how much planet allocation we got
Todays crisis story from BBC News.
Shops are closed but BBC can reveal that unbelievably sales are down. Clearly this is down to Brexit or the Tory Govt or more likely both but certainly has nothing to do with the fact that shops are closed.
Shops are closed but BBC can reveal that unbelievably sales are down. Clearly this is down to Brexit or the Tory Govt or more likely both but certainly has nothing to do with the fact that shops are closed.
You are the one bringing Brexit and the Government into it. I don't see either mentioned in the article.
Great extrapolation. Nonsensical but well done.
Removed
Perhaps this will be the turning point in which we realise we need to learn to live with less stuff.
Constantly buying, then throwing away stuff, and buying even more, especially things we don’t necessarily need, is damaging to the environment, given Earth doesn’t have infinite resources, especially if this is replicated for its 7.8 billion population.
Constantly buying, then throwing away stuff, and buying even more, especially things we don’t necessarily need, is damaging to the environment, given Earth doesn’t have infinite resources, especially if this is replicated for its 7.8 billion population.
I agree those attitudes exist and can definitely see where you're coming from, but I think maybe we do need to start challenging those attitudes to help combat the consumerism behaviour, driven by constant advertising and certain media outlet agendas for example.
People are not born with this behaviour in mind, we need to ensure education is effective in making a good society.
People are not born with this behaviour in mind, we need to ensure education is effective in making a good society.
same everywhere, inequality needs to be addressed as the rich expect the poor to supply frontline services whilst the rich dodge tax.
Happily Stu I can count myself out of that one! I have never cared about a posh car, posh clothes, celebrity endorsements etc, nor keeping up with the neighbours. More than happy to drive a 10-year old car - much better for the environment & wallet than buying a new one, and wear clothes until they fall apart. I appreciate there are (mystifyingly to me at least) people like this though
I think brand culture is a global phenomena and not everyone here follows it, or perhaps you are the only exception?
Me, me, me culture ?
Is that the same as "listen to 'me' and my views on HYS" ?
I'm right, you're wrong. I know best because all the others are stupid.
And you accuse others of altruism !!!
Is that the same as "listen to 'me' and my views on HYS" ?
I'm right, you're wrong. I know best because all the others are stupid.
And you accuse others of altruism !!!
It's unnecessarily bleak and a bit inaccurate to report the state of sales from "physical non-food stores" only. People are buying plenty of things online, including that would give a more accurate picture of the state of retail, surely?
So an overall drop of 0.3% in a year dominated by Covid and lockdowns! Online retail significantly up, I’ve just switched over to Sky News, much more positivity in the economic reporting there today.
Funny that they reported to same thing.
Please explain how BBC is so different to sky:
Sky "Retailers suffered worst year on record in 2020"
BBC "Retail sales in 2020 'worst for 25 years' "
Sky "Total sales fell by 0.3% on 2019 - the biggest year-on-year change since 1995."
BBC "an overall fall of 0.3%, the worst annual change since 1995."
Sky "Non-food sales dropped by 5%"
BBC "food sales rose 5.4%, non-food fell about 5%"
Sky "Retailers suffered worst year on record in 2020"
BBC "Retail sales in 2020 'worst for 25 years' "
Sky "Total sales fell by 0.3% on 2019 - the biggest year-on-year change since 1995."
BBC "an overall fall of 0.3%, the worst annual change since 1995."
Sky "Non-food sales dropped by 5%"
BBC "food sales rose 5.4%, non-food fell about 5%"
Do not worry - we have a mass migration of people back from Europe - once their consumption is returned to the high street we can see a swing in the right direction they will need to start new homes from scratch and will be looking for a massive amount of cheap affordable housing
Perhaps this will be the turning point in which we realise we need to learn to live with less stuff.
Constantly buying, then throwing away stuff, and buying even more, especially things we don’t necessarily need, is damaging to the environment, given Earth doesn’t have infinite resources, especially if this is replicated for its 7.8 billion population.
Constantly buying, then throwing away stuff, and buying even more, especially things we don’t necessarily need, is damaging to the environment, given Earth doesn’t have infinite resources, especially if this is replicated for its 7.8 billion population.
COVID will be like a minor itch compared open fractures all over your body if global warming really kicks in.
In a perfect world this would indeed be a wake up call for humanity.
This isn’t a perfect world though and will soon be forgotten.
In a perfect world this would indeed be a wake up call for humanity.
This isn’t a perfect world though and will soon be forgotten.
You are right. Covid is nature's way of reducing the population. Nature is cruel yes, but it has an ultimate purpose. It's very likely this virus will have long gone way before most people have the jab.
Or the Chinese trying for further world domination. Let's see hiw the Western Givernment's deal with that one. Probably do naff all as per usual.
CO2 emissions actually rose considerably this year
You could look at virus's as the planets immune system, trying to rid itself of billions of humans as our current population number is not sustainable. Even global warming cold be considered as the start of the planets 'fever' to get rid of us. The planet will win out, whether many humans will be around to see that who knows.
The High Street and retail in shops has been in decline for years with the rise in online purchasing, competitive nature of Supermarkets, high rents by retail landlords and high car parking prices set by Councils
Covid has accelerated this trend for the past 10 months and it's hard to see high street retail returning in popularity making job losses in this sector almost certain to continue
Covid has accelerated this trend for the past 10 months and it's hard to see high street retail returning in popularity making job losses in this sector almost certain to continue
What did I miss? When was there not a big gap between town and city high streets?
Some discerning towns, now looking very wise, refused the Golden Arches and all the other high margin low quality retail “giants” while encouraging small, local businesses.
So long as they’re supported they’ll be fine and better off than my local city. HoF, M&S, BHS + all the others, gone, premises empty.
Some discerning towns, now looking very wise, refused the Golden Arches and all the other high margin low quality retail “giants” while encouraging small, local businesses.
So long as they’re supported they’ll be fine and better off than my local city. HoF, M&S, BHS + all the others, gone, premises empty.
How are things going to improve when there are shortages of certain items and an increase in non-tariff trade barriers?
The best way out of the crisis is to rejoin the SM & CU.
The best way out of the crisis is to rejoin the SM & CU.
Guess what isn't going to happen? One of the relevant political parties doesn't want it, the other is now openly realist enough to reject it as electoral suicide. That leaves "Joining the EU" as the preserve of lunatic fringe groups like the Lib Dems and the SNP.
Who would have thought eh? Shut the shops, people can't buy as much stuff. Remarkable.
I'm glad those awful nail bars are now closed, it takes a certain class of woman to think they look attractive...pretty sure they are contributing factor of transmission. Has there been any research on how long viruses live on them..?
With more firms closing, job losses rising, employees on furlough, 3m self employed not eligible for Govt support, those with jobs concerned over long term future, rising food price, the 2020 uncertaintyover Brexit & the incompetence of Govt, this headline & story is hardly the surprise of the year!??
Feels a bit mis-leading, you cant report on 'retail' sales without including Amazon, thats just ridiculous and of course non-essential retail will be down, they've been shut for 4 months, which bright spark figured that out!
Seems like another 'meddling with the news' BBC story, something that is becoming more and more frequent, probably by the woke brexit teams seeking out other opportunities.
Seems like another 'meddling with the news' BBC story, something that is becoming more and more frequent, probably by the woke brexit teams seeking out other opportunities.
ALL THIS COVID IS TO ME IS A CONTROL MECHANISM. We have what I think is a highly controversial vaccine that I "REFUSE" to take, not interested. We have $38tn stolen from the markets and us since 2008 crash, by you guessed it, the top 2%. WHERE is our money gone you stole from us?, what are you upto UK GOVERNMENT?, running into space with your top 2% and all our money is not going to save you.
Your writing appears as incoherent as I imagine your thoughts to be.
A control mechanism? Don't forget your tinfoil lined mask when you do shopping.
Pathetic.....grow up you muppet!
This story seems to contradict ONS data, regularly published on the BBC, that has shown retail sales in 2020 above the previous year up to November, with December showing strong numbers as well.
On the 18th December, the BBC wrote "Despite the monthly fall, overall sales remain above their pre-pandemic levels."
Has anything changed since them, or is this selective reporting?
On the 18th December, the BBC wrote "Despite the monthly fall, overall sales remain above their pre-pandemic levels."
Has anything changed since them, or is this selective reporting?
One is from a respected statistics body the other is from a retail consortium whose members would rather their shops were open.
the report is what the British Retail Consortium say about retail sales. Do you not believe them? Given that they are the experts of retailing it's better to believe them. Or do you not trust expertise?
Thanks for FACT CHECKING the BBC who even fail to report that UK became 5th biggest economy in 2020 over taken France India thanks online business and services made and created in the UK. At least they reported on Warhammer sale being up 90%.
I'm glad those awful nail bars are now closed, it takes a certain class of woman to think they look attractive...pretty sure they are contributing factor of transmission. Has there been any research on how long viruses live on them..?
Keir.
I wouldn't say you're a bit dim at all! Anyone who thinks that this news is surprising anyone is the dim one. Not all news has to be groundbreaking. Obviously a sensible person, like yourself, would like to know the extent of the damage to retail. Brass Eye is clearly the dimmest of us all :)
Who would have thought eh? Shut the shops, people can't buy as much stuff. Remarkable.
Who on earth writes these self-evident and depressing reports for the Beeb? More to the point, why on earth are they paid to!
Does the BBC live in the real world ?????
Yes. I'm guessing that your invented name proves that you aren't. You are delusional - so you probably voted 'brexsit'. Don't deny it. Please go and look up Donald Trump on social media - you know you want to, 'major' (seriously?)
Do not worry - we have a mass migration of people back from Europe - once their consumption is returned to the high street we can see a swing in the right direction they will need to start new homes from scratch and will be looking for a massive amount of cheap affordable housing
ALL THIS COVID IS TO ME IS A CONTROL MECHANISM. We have what I think is a highly controversial vaccine that I "REFUSE" to take, not interested. We have $38tn stolen from the markets and us since 2008 crash, by you guessed it, the top 2%. WHERE is our money gone you stole from us?, what are you upto UK GOVERNMENT?, running into space with your top 2% and all our money is not going to save you.
This story seems to contradict ONS data, regularly published on the BBC, that has shown retail sales in 2020 above the previous year up to November, with December showing strong numbers as well.
On the 18th December, the BBC wrote "Despite the monthly fall, overall sales remain above their pre-pandemic levels."
Has anything changed since them, or is this selective reporting?
On the 18th December, the BBC wrote "Despite the monthly fall, overall sales remain above their pre-pandemic levels."
Has anything changed since them, or is this selective reporting?
So we are buying less things we don't really need.
Good for the environment
Good for people
But bad for a banking system that measures success by the growth in how much people borrow to spend on things they don't need
Good for the environment
Good for people
But bad for a banking system that measures success by the growth in how much people borrow to spend on things they don't need
This story seems to contradict ONS data, regularly published on the BBC, that has shown retail sales in 2020 above the previous year up to November, with December showing strong numbers as well.
On the 18th December, the BBC wrote "Despite the monthly fall, overall sales remain above their pre-pandemic levels."
Has anything changed since them, or is this selective reporting?
On the 18th December, the BBC wrote "Despite the monthly fall, overall sales remain above their pre-pandemic levels."
Has anything changed since them, or is this selective reporting?
ALL THIS COVID IS TO ME IS A CONTROL MECHANISM. We have what I think is a highly controversial vaccine that I "REFUSE" to take, not interested. We have $38tn stolen from the markets and us since 2008 crash, by you guessed it, the top 2%. WHERE is our money gone you stole from us?, what are you upto UK GOVERNMENT?, running into space with your top 2% and all our money is not going to save you.
So much for our economy then
Brexit is also to blame. Lets not blame covid for everthing.
Or hide behind Covid to try and deny the negative aspects of Brexit like your downvoters are doing.
Covid will pass - you're stuck with 'brexsit' for ever. You can thank fartrage for that (he don't care he's got a radio show, advertising revenue and D. Trump to pay his alimony) Not england's finest hour.
Hopefully we might see an end to the buying of cheap, poor value clothes, made in sweat shops around the world, which are promoted by talentless wannabe's who are paid to wear these clothes on tv game shows.
In the shops one day, worn once, and in the bin the day after. An appalling waste of natural resources.
In the shops one day, worn once, and in the bin the day after. An appalling waste of natural resources.
If only, but unfortunately this is the kind of product that is sold online to target the younger generation.
I agree that the throwaway culture is a waste of global resource but wait for the howls from the Church of England et al when we stop buying from 'poor' countries like Bangladesh whose economic output depends on our throwaway culture. The whole global economic model needs to change & that is no easy fix & I don't have a solution. Buying British will be seen as xenophobic & racist
ALL THIS COVID IS TO ME IS A CONTROL MECHANISM. We have what I think is a highly controversial vaccine that I "REFUSE" to take, not interested. We have $38tn stolen from the markets and us since 2008 crash, by you guessed it, the top 2%. WHERE is our money gone you stole from us?, what are you upto UK GOVERNMENT?, running into space with your top 2% and all our money is not going to save you.
I can imagine the BBC's Editor in Chief ordering his staff to find every new negative angle on the impacts of this virus.
As opposed to the positive angles?! Journalists are like house surveyors - it's their job to find potential problems and draw attention to them; the good news we can see for ourselves, if and when it happens. When the BBC starts blindly jollying people along would be the time to be concerned, as there's no way of distinguishing that from propaganda.
Let’s stop this nonsense about customers allegedly not wearing masks.
Customers are extremely compliant.
Of far greater concern are the shop staff who feel they have carte blanche to do whatever they like.
If you’re going to pick on someone, BBC, at least choose the right group.
Customers are extremely compliant.
Of far greater concern are the shop staff who feel they have carte blanche to do whatever they like.
If you’re going to pick on someone, BBC, at least choose the right group.
Does the BBC live in the real world ?????
ALL THIS COVID IS TO ME IS A CONTROL MECHANISM. We have what I think is a highly controversial vaccine that I "REFUSE" to take, not interested. We have $38tn stolen from the markets and us since 2008 crash, by you guessed it, the top 2%. WHERE is our money gone you stole from us?, what are you upto UK GOVERNMENT?, running into space with your top 2% and all our money is not going to save you.
Shame on the BBC for the sensationalist headline "Worst excess deaths in the UK since WW2" . Only hidden at the bottom is the balancing comment "It is likely to return death rates in the UK to levels last seen in the mid-2000s."
Removed
"Online non-food sales jumped by 44.8% in December"
So a miss leading headline with overall sales down by only 0.3%.
So a miss leading headline with overall sales down by only 0.3%.
Brexit is also to blame. Lets not blame covid for everthing.
Perhaps this will be the turning point in which we realise we need to learn to live with less stuff.
Constantly buying, then throwing away stuff, and buying even more, especially things we don’t necessarily need, is damaging to the environment, given Earth doesn’t have infinite resources, especially if this is replicated for its 7.8 billion population.
Constantly buying, then throwing away stuff, and buying even more, especially things we don’t necessarily need, is damaging to the environment, given Earth doesn’t have infinite resources, especially if this is replicated for its 7.8 billion population.
Maybe, maybe note. With the financial crisis 10 years ago and now those the rules of money are no longer compatible with reality.
Either we change the rules of money to match money
Or
We change reality to live by the current rules of reality.
I prefer option 1
Either we change the rules of money to match money
Or
We change reality to live by the current rules of reality.
I prefer option 1
Its more like 2200 billion for the government alone. Consumer debt is probably twice that.
Better still the wholesale progressive taxation of the excesses of consumerism including all forms of debt & borrowing natural resources would be the way to curb excess consumption & a debt fuelled world.
how are we going to pay off the debt...with money from people who are in debt?
using stuff up does not pay off debts
The debt on what?
Covid or the results of consumerism? (climate change, waste and environmental impact)
Covid or the results of consumerism? (climate change, waste and environmental impact)
This is news? - Why not tell us about some of the success stories in the face of adversity... That would be news worth reading.
Not everyone is a happy clapper like you though and there’s little to be happy about at the moment
Because Brits resent the success of others at the best of times - even more so when others can't achieve it. Be honest: if you read a piece about some bloke who launched, say, a mail order business based on whatever people buy a lot of during lockdown and who was now getting quite rich, you'd actually accuse him of exploiting the situation and want to punch him.
Not surprising really!
What's the next headline? Holidays in 2020 were at a 50 year low?
What's the next headline? Holidays in 2020 were at a 50 year low?
The global economy will recover from COVID, the UK economy also has the added disappointment of Brexit to burden it for many years to come sadly. The financial services brain drain to Ireland, France and Germany is accelerating.
Absolute twaddle.
The financial services brain drain you speak of is a myth, with most major banks and investment companies increasing their staff numbers in the UK since 2016.
The financial services brain drain you speak of is a myth, with most major banks and investment companies increasing their staff numbers in the UK since 2016.
or... best ever sales figures for a pandemic?
Really so you close all the shops and are then surprised when retail figures are bad.. I am surprised they were not worse..
No one is surprised these are the business pages and this is business news. Are words really that difficult for you to process?
Retail sales in 2020 'worst for 25 years
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And they called it project fear. It's reality now for many.
-
And they called it project fear. It's reality now for many.
What?!? Project fear was to do with Brexit, retail sales are down due to Covid not Brexit. We only really left last week?
I don't remember Remain claiming that voting to Leave would result in a pandemic.
I do remember that they said there would be a plague of locusts, but not a pandemic.
I do remember that they said there would be a plague of locusts, but not a pandemic.
Blimey, so Brexit caused Covid-19 then did it.
To me it was not Brexit or Covid that has decimated the UK economy, it was the London Government who has decimated our economy, just remember that. Out of all of the countries in Europe as an example, it has been farcical what the London Government has done since Covid. Then we have the removal of freedom of speech online and other oppressive things being introduced by top 1% and Goverments, why?
London Government? Don't know what that means but, furlough kind of ruins your argument if your talking about economics. Uk Gov was first to approve vaccines and one of the first to produce one, the vaccine that holds all the cards around the world due to its transportability. This Gov secured enough vaccines, while the EU didn't. UK has vaccinated more people than every European country.
Let’s stop this nonsense about customers allegedly not wearing masks.
Customers are extremely compliant.
Of far greater concern are the shop staff who feel they have carte blanche to do whatever they like.
If you’re going to pick on someone, BBC, at least choose the right group.
Customers are extremely compliant.
Of far greater concern are the shop staff who feel they have carte blanche to do whatever they like.
If you’re going to pick on someone, BBC, at least choose the right group.
Hopefully we might see an end to the buying of cheap, poor value clothes, made in sweat shops around the world, which are promoted by talentless wannabe's who are paid to wear these clothes on tv game shows.
In the shops one day, worn once, and in the bin the day after. An appalling waste of natural resources.
In the shops one day, worn once, and in the bin the day after. An appalling waste of natural resources.
Brexit is also to blame. Lets not blame covid for everthing.
Perhaps this will be the turning point in which we realise we need to learn to live with less stuff.
Constantly buying, then throwing away stuff, and buying even more, especially things we don’t necessarily need, is damaging to the environment, given Earth doesn’t have infinite resources, especially if this is replicated for its 7.8 billion population.
Constantly buying, then throwing away stuff, and buying even more, especially things we don’t necessarily need, is damaging to the environment, given Earth doesn’t have infinite resources, especially if this is replicated for its 7.8 billion population.
This is news? - Why not tell us about some of the success stories in the face of adversity... That would be news worth reading.
As opposed to the positive angles?! Journalists are like house surveyors - it's their job to find potential problems and draw attention to them; the good news we can see for ourselves, if and when it happens. When the BBC starts blindly jollying people along would be the time to be concerned, as there's no way of distinguishing that from propaganda.
Wow is it a really slow news day or what. Impressive state the bleeding obvious article there, but we know the BBC loves a miserable story.
Wierdly the local highstreet in my town has never had so many shops/takeaways opening on it their booming.
Wierdly the local highstreet in my town has never had so many shops/takeaways opening on it their booming.
It’s not surprising and it’s not going to change much. There will be a recovery of sorts when Covid is over but the move to on line retail is the death knell for many high streets and there will be fewer high street retailers in the future. We will see massive redevelopment of poorer high street retail to other uses ( probably leisure and residential) in the next 25 years
Does the BBC live in the real world ?????
Think positive, it's likely the best ever sales figures when shops have been totally closed for months and people are housebound or banned from buying 'non-essential items.'
Quelle surprise people aren't buying clothes, why bother when you rarely go anywhere? Unless like me you've been snapping up absolute bargains on ebay in prep for our release date in March/April/2024.
Quelle surprise people aren't buying clothes, why bother when you rarely go anywhere? Unless like me you've been snapping up absolute bargains on ebay in prep for our release date in March/April/2024.
What a surprise.
BBC - how about some positive news, of some businesses who are adapting to make things work for them during this crisis. Or is good news banned by the editors now?
BBC - how about some positive news, of some businesses who are adapting to make things work for them during this crisis. Or is good news banned by the editors now?
Send us all your 'good' news Nigel - I would LOVE to hear it.
The global economy will recover from COVID, the UK economy also has the added disappointment of Brexit to burden it for many years to come sadly. The financial services brain drain to Ireland, France and Germany is accelerating.
People that are saying that this is good news obviously are not working in retail or financially dependant on someone working in retail. They also don't know how important retail is to local communities.
All this shows that there should be no delay in getting back to normal after the vulnerable are vaccinated and there is no immediate risk of the NHS being overwhelmed.
All this shows that there should be no delay in getting back to normal after the vulnerable are vaccinated and there is no immediate risk of the NHS being overwhelmed.
It’s not good news but I cannot see the long term trend changing much. Neither Covid, nor Brexit are the main drivers of this. It’s on- line retail taking ever more share at the expense of shops. Shop jobs will move to on line retail, warehouses and distribution.
Do not worry - we have a mass migration of people back from Europe - once their consumption is returned to the high street we can see a swing in the right direction they will need to start new homes from scratch and will be looking for a massive amount of cheap affordable housing
The global economy will recover from COVID, the UK economy also has the added disappointment of Brexit to burden it for many years to come sadly. The financial services brain drain to Ireland, France and Germany is accelerating.
Constantly buying, then throwing away stuff, and buying even more, especially things we don’t necessarily need, is damaging to the environment, given Earth doesn’t have infinite resources, especially if this is replicated for its 7.8 billion population.