The weather and the recession.

Graham_Devon

treliac wrote: »

Would you believe it?!!!!!

Certainly would!

Unfortunately.

lostinrates

The only nuts thing we've had is that grit heaps, which we used to have, are now not allowed ('elf &safety....Christmassy, huh?). We used to have heaps on the junctions/hills so locals could shovel them out as needed. Now they drop bags....not as many....and, er....very stealable...grrrrrr. So one or two drops a year replenishing heaps is now going to need to be a frequent thing.

Snooze

Snowing in Huddersfield at the moment but although it's really coming down hard, it's that fine stuff rather than proper big meaty flakes. Tis settling though, the main road is whited over already. :j

R

Snooze

lostinrates wrote: »

The only nuts thing we've had is that grit heaps, which we used to have, are now not allowed ('elf &safety....Christmassy, huh?). We used to have heaps on the junctions/hills so locals could shovel them out as needed. Now they drop bags....not as many....and, er....very stealable...grrrrrr. So one or two drops a year replenishing heaps is now going to need to be a frequent thing.

Could have done with 'finding' a couple of those bags of grit myself. Would have saved myself a tenner at my local builders merchants for 2x 25kg bags the other day for my driveway which is on a 1:4 gradient. Also, having spent an hour clearing it of snow on Monday, I was just about to drive out when the stupid snow plough came trundling past and promptly swept an 18" high bank of snow across the end of it again. :mad: Bloody council, they can't get anything right! :rolleyes:

R

Davesnave

I've just stuck my head out the window to hear the church clock strike midnight, which means there's virtually no wind. Despite this, the bird bath hasn't frozen over and it looks pretty cloudy up there.

I'd say that, here in mid Devon, the slightly snowy siege is over.:D

treliac

Davesnave wrote: »

I'd say that, here in mid Devon, the slightly snowy siege is over.:D

Oh to be in Devon - my second home. :cool:

Spartacus_Mills

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/retailing/article6964513.ece

The snow took its toll on the biggest shopping weekend of the year. Footfall was down 6.9 per cent last weekend against the corresponding weekend last year.
Anita Manan, senior analyst at Experian Footfall, said: “With up to six inches of snow falling in parts of the country, consumers may be waiting until the weather settles before making further shopping outings, as weather forecasters urge people to make only essential trips.
“Previous trends have shown that the lower the year-on-year pre-Christmas footfall is to the high street before Christmas, the higher the last-minute peak. With an extra day this year, clearly this peak will happen late, as has been the trend over the last few years. Retailers may not hear the jingle at the tills they have been wating for.”
However, London has been supported by a surge in foreign visitors. The New West End Company, the trade body that represents retailers on Oxford Street, Bond Street and Regent Street, said that sales to foreign visitors had risen by 26 per cent in the year to November 30.






Takings were boosted by Americans returning to the West End, after visitor numbers fell earlier in the year. The number of Chinese shoppers has risen by 118 per cent, while the number of American visitors has increased by 31 per cent. Russian and Saudi Arabian visitor numbers increased by 3 per cent.

Generali

It was 38C and sunny according to the thermometer in Merrylands this afternoon.

The bad weather will cut GDP as if you can't get to work, you can't make output and if you can't get to the shops you can't consume output. Whether that will be enough to make GDP fall is a different question. It might be enough and could decide the election.

If so it would be the first statistical oddity since Labour (?) lost due to trade figures being skewed by a one off purchase of Boeings by an airline (seriously).

HAMISH_MCTAVISH

Generali wrote: »

The bad weather will cut GDP as if you can't get to work, you can't make output and if you can't get to the shops you can't consume output. Whether that will be enough to make GDP fall is a different question. It might be enough and could decide the election.

If so it would be the first statistical oddity since Labour (?) lost due to trade figures being skewed by a one off purchase of Boeings by an airline (seriously).

I have no doubt that the weather has played havoc with GDP.

The Daily Express is forecasting a million pounds a minute will be spent today.

Nobody should underestimate the impact the last week before X-Mas has on retail and leisure spends, which make up a large part of GDP.

Davesnave

Davesnave wrote: »

I'd say that, here in mid Devon, the slightly snowy siege is over.:D

Sorry, this was a load of pants, but I don't suppose it matters. Too much of an inner glow, perhaps!

Sometime after the 'thaw' began, it rained a bit, then skies cleared, so we woke up to -4C this morning and the worst roads yet!

I reached the station and returned OK at 07.30, but I still haven't seen a bus....

Apparently, we shall be basking in +8C by the afternoon....

Whatever the GDP implications, this week has been a great one for local garages and car dealers.;)