Only Thd 1St Of Feb And.

[nicebloke1]

The shops are rammed full, you would think it was Xmas all over again.

[newmodarmy]

Good news. Brexit must be paying off.

[nicebloke1]

The sausage in M&S states on it, NOT for EU???

[newmodarmy]

Even better... the shops are full of people and home produced goods.

[bookbinder]

As today is the first of the new month, I am guessing that some people were paid their salaries yesterday, and they're stocking up (before prices go up, yet again!).

[New Judge]

"The sausage in M&S states on it, NOT for EU???"

“Not for EU” labels are part of the preposterous arrangements the previous UK government agreed to in order to facilitate the protection of the EU’s borders.

Many foodstuffs sent to Northern Ireland were to be labelled in this way to prevent the possibility of your toxic sausages finding their way over the border to cause contamination in the ultra-sanitised conditions which prevail in the EU. You never know; rogue traders in Ireland might have taken your Black Market Lincolnshires further afield. You know, to places such as Romania and Bulgaria, where 12% (Romania) and “only a small amount” (Bulgaria) of sewage is treated in line with EU legislation.

Many manufacturers decided to label all their goods which would be sold anywhere in the UK with that label (presumably to avoid them having to produce two different versions).

In September 2024 (and following the introduction of the even more preposterous “Windsor Framework) it was decided that mandatory labelling of “Not for EU” was not necessary:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/not-for-eu-labelling-for-retail-products-across-great-britain-policy-update/067c66fd-64f4-436c-a47a-ae89cd8904b5

I imagine the wrappers on your bangers (though hopefully not the bangers themselves)  were from old stock.

I’m surprised you found the shops “rammed full”:

https://www.cbi.org.uk/media-centre/articles/retail-sales-slump-continues-into-january/

“Retail sales volumes were judged to be ‘poor’ for the time of year in January, to a similar extent as seen over the previous three months (-24% from -23% in December). Sales are expected to fall short of seasonal norms to a greater degree in February (-31%).”

“The retail sector saw a further deepening of the recent sales downturn in January. Retailers cited weak demand and downbeat sentiment as continuing strains on business conditions.”

As above, it's payday - the first since Christmas - so that probably has an effect. 

[nicebloke1]

Well if they hadnt got any money they wouldnt be able to stock up, they would be living hand to mouth. No pensioners have died through cold or hunger like predicted time and time again on this site. Sorry.

[newmodarmy]

How do you know no pensioners have died of cold or hunger. Even Labour forecast a  large number of excess deaths would result from the removal of WFA

[nicebloke1]

What a bundle of joy. :0)

[nicebloke1]

TTT has been trawling the media sites for such great news, and drawed a blank. Flu and other viruses are always at there worst in winter. Try again, please try harder

[newmodarmy]

We won't know the excess death figures for this winter until we'll into 2025. It's silly to state there haven't been any deaths due to cold or hunger when you haven't a clue. The reality is there are such deaths among the elderly every year and it can only be worse unfortunately. Rachel knew that but still went ahead.

[nicebloke1]

No reports of arrivals at the mortuary with icicles hanging from their noses, or sunken bellies. God god NJ. You must be running out of paste by now.

[newmodarmy]

What rubbish you post.

[nicebloke1]

The only product thats seen a big turndown for the last 6 years is the oven ready turkey, sales VERY low. I'm pretty sure thats down to Boris. Still posting your rubbish on the Abbey thread NMA? 

[New Judge]

"No pensioners have died through cold or hunger like predicted time and time again on this site."

How do you know that? I'd be very surprised if you were correct. Apparently many thousands of older people die each year from the cold. Here's a couple of reports from many which are available:

https://www.endfuelpoverty.org.uk/4950-excess-winter-deaths-caused-by-cold-homes-last-winter/

https://www.nea.org.uk/news/fuel-poverty-charity-reveals-45-people-per-day-die-from-cold-homes/

Of course they are from previous years and this year's are not yet available. Has the new Government put a stop to it?

I'm not sure too many people on here forecast deaths from hunger as I recall the debates centred around the loss of winter fuel payments.  But I reckon they'd be on fairly safe ground if they fancied a flutter down at Joe Corals:

 https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/health-wellbeing/conditions-illnesses/malnutrition/

[Canary42]

wotasillithread 🤣

[nicebloke1]

Having a flutter at joe Corals is more often than not why some cant heat their homes, or it goes over the counter at Wetherspoons. As for AgeUK they love doom and gloom  ( Please Donate) or leave us in your will.

[New Judge]

So the reports are wrong, then?

[Canary42]

Shop figures not unusual - it's a Saturday.