High Street Sales Slumpm Government Borrowing Higher Than Predicted

[barry1010]

Retail sales fell for the third month in a row, with no signs of improvement.

Inflation at an 8 month high.  Government borrowing £2b more than predicted.

Yesterday I went to Asda and Aldi, expecting it to be very busy but there was no problem finding a parking space and the shops seemed not much busier than a normal Friday.

Can we expect things to improve next year?

https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/markets/article-14214887/Festive-gloom-High-Street-sales-slump.html?

[davebro3]

//Can we expect things to improve next year?//

doubtful

[newmodarmy]

Surely you're mistaken Barry. This contradicts Nicebloke's recent posts showing us how well the economy is doing thanks to Keir.

[barry1010]

Maybe the shops in his exceptional high street weren't considered in the report, too elite, nma.

[Togo]

Went into M & S yesterday afternoon to nail the last of the shopping so that we can have a relaxing weekend. Expected the retail car park and store to be a mare as it has been every year. Straight onto the car park without a hold up, parking spot right on the dot and the shopping done and paid for in 20 minutues. The store was busier in the Summer and the shelves were fully stocked unlike previous years if you are not there at the crack of dawn. It is obvious to anyone with an iota of common sense that the retail section is going to crash the same as the manufacturing industries.    

[ToraToraTora]

This is just the start, wait till the government job destruction initiative kicks in.

[gulliver1]

Amazon.Kicking in .

[gramps85]

10.08. I didn't know you could buy your weekly groceries at Amazon. Must give it a try.

[naomi24]

It's Starmer's  government kicking in.  It didn't take long.

[pastafreak]

Gramps...Amazon has Amazon Fresh, their own delivery service available in mostly large metropolitan areas. And you can get same day Morrisons delivery through them too.

[barry1010]

Amazon delivered Morrison shopping would count as high street sales.

[newmodarmy]

M&S maybe quite at the moment because they provide a good order system where you prebook well in advance and collect your items in one go in the last couple of days before Christmas.

I went to Lidl yesterday and for the first time for ages didn't have to queue. Picked up my Lidl app free loaf and 5 big packs of veg @ 8p each. 

[New Judge]

"Maybe the shops in his exceptional high street weren't considered in the report, too elite, nma."

As I explained in another thread, my guess is that locals meet in the shops to keep warm. They can't afford to buy anything but they can't afford to stay in their homes because it's too expensive to heat them. They can't afford to buy beer or coffee in the pubs or cafes, so meeting up in the shops seems a good alternative.

Of course it's not quite as good as it might be because most large shops insist on leaving their doors wide open and heating the street with their 15Kw curtain heaters. It doesn't seem to have occurred to them that people who want to go in will find the door handle and to keep the doors shut might save them a few quid.

[barry1010]

Now you mention it the library was busy with old people sat reading the free papers. 

[gulliver1]

Gramps 10.19 ..... oops!

[fiveleaves]

Government borrowing in Npovember was lower than predicted

[Deskdiary]

Nicebloke is remarkably, although unsurprisingly, quiet isn't he.