The Big Four supermarkets have had their worst run into Christmas for 15 years, according to the latest market data (The Daily Mail). Investors were quick to put supermarket stocks back on the shelves yesterday amid a warning that shoppers have reined in their Christmas spending before the election. (The Times £)

Sales of Christmas puddings and seasonal biscuits are down as shoppers delay stocking up on festive supplies ahead of the general election. (Sky News)

Britain heads into tomorrow’s general election with the economy stagnating after official figures showed that there was zero growth in gross domestic product in the three months to October (The Times £). The paralysing effect of Brexit uncertainty on businesses was laid bare today as new figures revealed the economy stalling in the lead up to the general election (The Daily Mail). Brexit uncertainty and the global slowdown are being blamed for blighting growth, as the UK economy was stagnating in the last official check before the election (Sky News).

Britain’s economy stalled in the three months to October following steep falls in the manufacturing and construction industries, according to the last official economic data before voters head to the polls on Thursday. (The Guardian)

Britain’s balance of payments deficit deteriorated by more than expected in October as Brexit stockpiling gathered pace again. (The Times £)

Just Eat has rejected a fresh attempt by South Africa’s Naspers to disrupt the food delivery group’s planned tie-up with Takeaway.com, saying the sweetened offer “significantly undervalues” the company (The Financial Times £). Just Eat has rebuffed the latest attempt by South Africa’s Naspers to derail its planned deal with rival Takeaway.com, saying the £5.1billion sweetened bid undervalues the group (The Daily Mail).

Mothercare’s sales have slid further in Britain and overseas after the retailer put its UK business into administration last month with the potential loss of 2,800 jobs (The Guardian). Mothercare will continue to sell in the UK through franchises, its boss said, after the business collapsed in Britain last month (The Telegraph).

The decline of the British pub may be at an end, according to official figures showing that the number of pubs has increased for the first time this decade. (The Guardian)

The JD Wetherspoon chain revealed plans to invest £200m in new pubs and hotels, creating 10,000 jobs over the next four years, despite concerns over weaker consumer spending in the UK (The Financial Times £). JD Wetherspoon will create up to 10,000 new jobs as it invests more than £200million in pubs and hotels over the next four years (The Daily Mail). JD Wetherspoon is to go on a £200m spending spree on pubs and hotels over the next four years - creating around 10,000 new jobs, the company has announced (Sky News). Wetherspoon said the majority of the £200m investment would happen in small and medium-sized towns (The BBC).

The long-serving chairman of Domino’s Pizza will step down in the wake of a US hedge fund wrestling control of a boardroom overhaul. (The Telegraph)

Shareholders in Eddie Stobart Logistics will be given the option to take part in a rights issue early next year to help pay down or to share the proceeds of a high-interest loan used to rescue the haulage group by Dbay, a private equity group. (The Financial Times £)

Marks & Spencer has boosted its efforts to revive its clothing division by hiring a senior Adidas director to take charge of its supply chain. (The Times £)

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