Boxing Day shopper footfall was down 7.9% from last year across all UK retail destinations up until 5pm, MRI Software’s OnLocation Footfall Index found. However, this year’s data had been compared with an unusual spike in footfall as 2023 was the first “proper Christmas” period without Covid-19 pandemic restrictions, an analyst at the retail technology company said. It found £4.6 billion will be spent overall on the festive sales. Before the pandemic the number of Boxing Day shoppers on the streets had been declining year on year. The last uplift recorded by MRI was in 2015. Jenni Matthews, marketing and insights director at MRI Software, told the PA news agency: “We’ve got to bear in mind that (last year) was our first proper Christmas without any (Covid-19) restrictions or limitations. “Figures have come out that things have stabilised, we’re almost back to what we saw pre-pandemic.” There were year-on-year declines in footfall anywhere between 5% and 12% before Covid-19 restrictions, she said. MRI found 12% fewer people were out shopping on Boxing Day in 2019 than in 2018, and there were 3% fewer in 2018 than in 2017, Ms Matthews added. She said: “It’s the shift to online shopping, it’s the convenience, you’ve got the family days that take place on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.” People are also increasingly stocking-up before Christmas, Ms Matthews said, and MRI found an 18% increase in footfall at all UK retail destinations on Christmas Eve this year compared with 2023. Ms Matthews said: “We see the shops are full of people all the way up to Christmas Eve, so they’ve probably got a couple of good days of food, goodies, everything that they need, and they don’t really need to go out again until later on in that week. “We did see that big boost on Christmas Eve. It looks like shoppers may have concentrated much of their spending in that pre-Christmas rush.” Many online sales kicked off between December 23 and the night of Christmas Day and “a lot of people would have grabbed those bargains from the comfort of their own home”, she said. She added: “I feel like it’s becoming more and more common that people are grabbing the bargains pre-Christmas.” Footfall is expected to rise on December 27 as people emerge from family visits and shops re-open, including Next, Marks and Spencer and John Lewis that all shut for Boxing Day. It will also be payday for some as it is the last Friday of the month. A study by Barclays Consumer Spend had forecast that shoppers would spend £236 each on average in the Boxing Day sales this year, but that the majority of purchases would be made online. Nearly half of respondents said the cost-of-living crisis will affect their post-Christmas shopping but the forecast average spend is still £50 more per person than it was before the pandemic, with some of that figure because of inflation, Barclays said. Amid the financial pressures, many people are planning to buy practical, perishable and essential items such as food and kitchenware. A total of 65% of shoppers are expecting to spend the majority of their sales budget online. Last year, Barclays found 63.9% of Boxing Day retail purchases were made online. However, a quarter of respondents aim to spend mostly in store – an 11% rise compared with last year. Karen Johnson, head of retail at Barclays, said: “Despite the ongoing cost-of-living pressures, it is encouraging to hear that consumers will be actively participating in the post-Christmas sales. “This year, we’re likely to see a shift towards practicality and sustainability, with more shoppers looking to bag bargains on kitchen appliances and second-hand goods.” Consumers choose in-store shopping largely because they enjoy the social aspect and touching items before they buy, Barclays said, adding that high streets and shopping centres are the most popular destinations.New York, NY, Dec. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FROGE, the community-driven meme coin, is experiencing a meteoric rise in popularity following its unexpected inclusion in OpenAI’s #OpenAI12Days livestream series. The livestreams, which launched earlier this month, have featured FROGE-themed Easter eggs that have captivated audiences worldwide, igniting a frenzy of interest among crypto enthusiasts and beyond. 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As the unofficial official mascot of OpenAI’s livestream series, FROGE embodies the convergence of AI, meme culture, and decentralized finance. Join the Movement As the #OpenAI12Days livestreams continue to spark excitement, the FROGE community is buzzing with anticipation for what’s next. With its rich history, vibrant community, and ambitious roadmap, FROGE is proving that meme coins can be both fun and impactful. For more information about FROGE and its growing ecosystem, visit https://froge.vip/ . Join the conversation on Twitter at https://x.com/frogevip or connect with the community on Telegram at https://t.me/frogevipportal . About FROGE FROGE is a community-driven cryptocurrency project that blends the creativity of meme culture with the power of blockchain technology. With a thriving ecosystem and a focus on innovation, FROGE is redefining what it means to be a meme coin in today’s rapidly evolving crypto landscape. Website | Twitter | Telegram | Reddit | DEXTools | Medium | YouTube | NFT Collection https://froge.vip/ Disclaimer: The information provided in this release is not investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is recommended that you practice due diligence (including consultation with a professional financial advisor) before investing in or trading securities and cryptocurrency .
Furthermore, in response to the changing needs and preferences of the rental market, we can expect to see an increase in the development of mixed-use rental properties in 2024. These integrated developments combine residential units with commercial, retail, and recreational spaces, creating vibrant communities where residents can live, work, and socialize conveniently. This trend reflects a shift towards more holistic and sustainable urban planning practices, catering to the diverse lifestyles of modern tenants.As the backlash continued to grow, Zhang Ruoyun took to his official Weibo account to issue a public apology for his actions. In his statement, he expressed deep regret and acknowledged the mistake he had made. He wrote, "I am very sorry for my irresponsible behavior of littering cigarette butts in public places. I realize now that my actions were not only thoughtless but also harmful to the environment. I want to sincerely apologize to everyone who was offended or disappointed by my actions."
It was during a routine follow-up appointment that the shocking truth came to light. An x-ray revealed the presence of a foreign object lodged within the bar owner's body - the missing tip of the knife that had been used against him. The ramifications of this oversight were immediate and severe, necessitating another round of surgeries and treatments to rectify the situation.
Yang Niuhua, with unwavering faith, faced the uphold of the death penalty in her second trial. Despite the daunting circumstances, her resolve remained unshakeable as she stood before the verdict.Police believe gunman who killed UnitedHealthcare CEO has left New York City
The cryptocurrency landscape has always been characterized by its fast-paced and unpredictable nature, with prices often subject to dramatic fluctuations within short periods. However, the recent plunge that saw Bitcoin lose a significant portion of its value caught many off guard, triggering a cascade of liquidations as leveraged positions were forcibly closed to prevent further losses.
LISTEN: Bruce McAvaney on sacrifices, his biggest critic, what's nextThe ongoing fight between some faculty at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur and the administration at the premier engineering school, mainly the director Virendra Kumar Tewari, may end up before the courts, with the faculty threatening to approach the Calcutta High Court. Some of the professors have also threatened to launch a hunger strike. “We have already sent a letter to the chairman of the board of governors for his intervention. Sit-in demonstration has started since Wednesday. If our demands our not met we would go for a hunger strike. We are also planning to move court early next week,” said one of the professors who received a show-cause notice, asking not to be identified. While the immediate provocation for both the hunger-strike and the plan to move the high court, is a show-cause notice issued by the institution’s registrar last week to 86 faculty members, the controversy has been brewing since September. That was when the Indian Institute of Technology Teachers’ Association (IITTA) sent a letter to the Union human resource development minister accusing the institute’s director of nepotism, arbitrary recruitment of faculty, failure to start a multi super-speciality hospital, unlawful recovery of excess payment from faculties and vitiating the harmony between the IIT campus and the neighbouring community. Tewari, the director of the institute took charge in December 2019 for a period of five years. His tenure ends in January 2025. “The letter sent to the Union minister on September 20 stated that several letters sent to the director, board of governors and the chairman over the issues in the past went unanswered. The ministry was requested to appoint a new director of high academic repute and experienced in practising inclusive governance,” said a second professor and a member of the IITTA, who too didn’t wish to be named. In response, the IIT administration issued show-cause notices to the office bearers of the IITTA, including the body’s president, general secretary, vice president and treasurer on November 12. A separate show-cause notice was issued to Amal Kumar Das, a professor and general secretary of IITTA. “The institute is deeply concerned by the contents of your letter and accordingly you are required to provide a detailed written explanation with evidence,” the letter stated, giving the respondents a week’s time to provide satisfactory explanation. On November 28, 86 faculty members, under the umbrella of IITTA petitioned the institute, threatening to go on a hunger strike if the show cause notices to the four IITTA office-bearers were not rolled recalled. But the institute doubled down and issued show cause notices to these 86 too. “We, the faculty members of IIT Kharagpur demand that the two show cause notices, against the office bearers and Das, be withdrawn immediately and disciplinary proceedings are also stopped,” the petition said. In response, on November 29, the administration issued show-cause notices to all the 86 faculty members. The show-cause letter cited the Conduct Rules of the Institute, statute 15 (17) Schedule B, point 16 (b) which states: “No employee shall be signatory to any joint representation addressed to the authorities for redress of any grievances or of any further matter.” The director also replaced three heads of departments – Artificial Intelligence, Mathematics and Bioscience and Biotechnology, earlier this week. They had all signed the petition. HT got in touch with the IIT Kharagpur director’s office and sent an email seeking his response on the developments. There was no response till the time of going to print. On Wednesday, at least 100 professors staged a sit-in before the institution’s administrative building, holding placards and wearing black badges.Title: "A-shares Surging with Across-the-Board Opening, the Opportunity Waits for No One"