Debenhams Stores; Christmas shortages; Tradings Apps
Why some turkey and cheese could be hard to come by this Christmas.
Retail space equivalent to the size of 6 Westfield shopping centres, could be left empty by the loss of Debenhams and the Arcadia Group. That's according to new research which lays bare the devastating impact losing brands like Top Shop and Dorothy Perkins from the high street could have. Talks are continuing for a rescue bid for Debehams but there are 25 thousand jobs at risk and this research shows that more than 16 million square feet of retail space is under threat. We'll speak EG, who did the research and also get reaction from the British Property Association.
Christmas dinner is likely to be a different this year. Even with the coronavirus rules relaxing, they'll be fewer get-togethers and less of us around the table. It's also been a very difficult year for many food producers who've had to prepare for a festive season not knowing what demand would be like. This uncertainty is already leading to some shortages. We've been speaking to a couple of producers about that - one makes cheese, the other breeds turkeys.
The buying and selling of shares used to be quite a complicated and costly business for the everyday investor. But this is changing thanks to a growing number of trading apps that let people do it from a smartphone, commission-free. The companies behind them say they're democratising investing by opening it up the masses. Critics say they're turning trading into a game and are encouraging young, often inexperienced investors to take big risks. We'll discuss that with Tom who's signed up to one and an expert.
Presenter: Sam Fenwick
Producer: Jess Quayle