Gloomy high street figures for February were the main story in the nationals this morning. The FT reports UK retail sales registered only a modest, below inflation rise last month, as bad weather and a “cautious” consumer hit spending.
However, The Guardian says Valentine’s Day was a bright spot amid February’s “grey days”. The effect of Valentine’s Day is also reported in The Standard, which says impulsive spending brought relief for retailers.
At the same time, retailers could be hit with a multibillion-pound bill due to UK equal pay claims, the FT writes this morning. A series of court rulings against the supermarkets, which have traditionally paid warehouse workers more than predominantly female store staff, could leave the companies liable for payouts running into billions, it warns.
The FT also takes a deep dive into Amazon’s use of robotics in its warehouses. Amazon is testing ever more advanced systems as part of its drive to increase efficiency in sorting and fulfilment centres, it writes.
Over at The Times, a study by the University of Bristol on the benefits of eating fish comes under the microscope. The study suggests eating fish has a “positive effect on child development” and is linked to better behaviour and friendliness in primary school-aged children.
The Times also reports on the impact of a beef shortage. Meat lovers can expect to pay more as demand increases, but supply of cattle in the UK dwindles, it writes.
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