6:53 am, September 18, 2021
Holiday interest boosted by travel rule changes amid concerns over testing
Holiday bookings are expected to soar after the government announced a relaxation of international travel rules, but concerns have been raised over a changed approach to Covid-19 testing.
Transport secretary Grant Shapps revealed on Friday that the traffic light system is set to be replaced from October 4 by a single, reduced ‘red list’ of destinations from where travellers arriving in England will have to quarantine in a government-supervised hotel.
People who are fully vaccinated will no longer need a pre-departure test before returning from non-red list destinations, and from the end of October they will be able to replace the day two PCR test with a cheaper lateral flow test.
Older people and men ‘more likely to suffer’ with Covid even after two jabs
Older people, men and those from ethnic backgrounds are more likely to end up in hospital or die even after they have been double-vaccinated against Covid-19, researchers say.
Scientists used a range of data to show that while the risk of severe Covid-19 after vaccination remains low, some people are at greater risk than others.
They include older people and those from Indian and Pakistani backgrounds.
UK retail sales drop for fourth month in a row
UK retail sales dropped in August for the fourth consecutive month as grocery sales were impacted by more people returning to restaurants and pubs, according to official figures.
The Office for National Statistic said retail sales volumes dropped by 0.9 per cent last month, following a 2.8% fall in July.
However, retail sales volumes remain 4.6 per cent ahead of pre-pandemic levels.
First-time buyers make a comeback and account for three in 10 home sales
Nearly three in 10 (28 per cent) home sales went to first-time buyers in August – the highest proportion in over a year – according to estate agents.
It marks the highest percentage since June 2020, when 29 per cent of sales went to people getting on the property ladder, according to estate agents’ body Propertymark.
It was the strongest August for sales to first-time buyers since 2016, when the percentage was also 28 per cent.
Banksy artworks on display ahead of online auction deadline
Rare works from subversive street artist Banksy have gone on display ahead of an auction deadline later this month.
Titled Banksy: I Can’t Believe You Morons Actually Buy This Sh*t, the name of the Christie’s online-only sale pays homage to Banksy’s famous Morons screenprint.
Morons is based on a photograph of the record-breaking sale of Vincent van Gogh’s Sunflowers in 1987, with van Gogh’s canvas replaced by Banksy’s text.
Friday’s Car Dealer headlines you might have missed
- Sign in for early access: Car Dealer issue 163 features Lotus boss, record used car prices, the worsening semiconductor crisis and more
- Used car prices continue to set records as average price topped nearly £18k last week
- We Buy Any Car fined £200,000 by ICO for sending more than 190m marketing emails and text messages
- Dealership employee banned from driving for speeding through sleepy Yorkshire village at 86mph
- Robins & Day extends agreement to remarket more than 6,000 cars a year with Manheim
- Time is running out for Car Dealer Used Car Awards nominations – get voting today!
- Hendy Group launches car rental service to meet growing demand
- GardX International acquires successful customer communication centre, Calls4U
- Cinch agrees historic six-year sponsorship deal with Northampton Saints
- New cars have a record-breaking year for reduction in carbon emissions
- Digital driving licences to be introduced in post-Brexit transport changes
Next agrees franchise deal with Gap but will not save UK stores
Next has agreed a deal to run Gap’s business in the UK and Ireland as a franchise partner.
However, the move will not spark a return for Gap’s high street operations, after the retail giant revealed plans in July to axe its 81 stores in the region.
The move will see the two firms form a joint venture – with 51 per cent owned by Next and 49 per cent by Gap – which will see Next operate the US fashion brand’s digital operations, concessions and click and collect service.
Kia Sorento named UK’s best tow car
Kia’s large Sorento SUV has been awarded tow car of the year, fending off models like the Volkswagen Passat Estate and BMW X5.
Awarded by What Car? and The Camping and Caravanning Club, the latest seven-seat Sorento – Kia’s flagship in the UK – was praised highly for its ‘huge breadth of abilities’.
The model tested, fitted with a 2.2-litre turbodiesel – was initially named as the category winner for being able to tow 1,900kg plus and costing up to £50,000, before then being named as the overall winner.
Fiat introduces soft-top 500X
Fiat has revealed the 500X Dolcevita – a soft-top version of the firm’s compact crossover.
Priced from £23,975 – with first deliveries expected later this year – the 500X Dolcevita incorporates a canvas soft top that can open in 15 seconds at speeds of up to 62mph.
The canvas is available in black, grey and red, too, while there are ten exterior body colours to choose from as well.
FTSE 100 falls on tough day for European markets
The FTSE 100 closed in the red yesterday on what was a difficult day across the board for markets throughout Europe.
The British stock index ended Friday down 63.84 points down (0.91 per cent) on 6,963.64.
Elsewhere the German Dax also slumped by 1.03 per cent to 15,490.17 and the French Cac fell by 0.79 per cent to end the day on 6,570.19.
Outbreaks of rain expected
Today will see spells of light rain across eastern Scotland, western England and Wales. Elsewhere it will be drier with some sunny spells developing, but the odd sharp shower is likely later on, reports the BBC.
Tonight, outbreaks of rain will continue across eastern Scotland, Wales and western England, these locally heavy in places. Elsewhere will be drier but largely cloudy, with the odd clear break.
Tomorrow, heavy rain will drift eastwards across England, coming to reside over much of eastern Britain for the afternoon. To the west, it will turn drier with sunshine, but the odd shower may linger.
