Business

Image copyright Getty Images Debenhams is heading for another major restructuring which could involve more store closures. It was already in discussions with landlords before the coronavirus outbreak, but those talks have now become more urgent. Debenhams has already closed 22 stores this year, with a further 28 to shut in 2021 as part of […]

Image copyright Getty Images Have you been thinking about getting a mortgage? You’re going to need to think again as lenders are scrapping their home loan deals. On Tuesday, Nationwide – one of the UK’s biggest lenders – effectively pulled out of new deals. Others are doing the same as the home mortgage market goes

Image copyright Reuters Frustrated customers are demanding that airlines make it easier to claim a refund for flights cancelled owing to the coronavirus outbreak. But the airlines’ trade body wants the right to give vouchers, not refunds. Hundreds of flights have been cancelled as fleets are grounded and the process of reimbursing people is under

Image copyright Getty Images The financial impact of coronavirus will stop almost 24 million people from escaping poverty in East Asia and the Pacific, according to the World Bank. It says “significant economic pain seems unavoidable in all countries”. The World Bank warned of “substantially higher risk” among households that depend on industries particularly vulnerable

Image copyright EPA Sales of groceries in the UK in March beat all previous records as shoppers stocked up for a long period at home, according to consumer analysts Kantar. The busiest spell was 16-19 March, when 88% of households visited a food store, adding up to 42 million extra trips across four days. In

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption British Airways is among many airlines that have seen passenger numbers shrink and bookings collapse British Airways will suspend all flights to and from London’s Gatwick airport amid a collapse in demand due to the coronavirus. The move follows EasyJet’s suspension of flights after the government advised against all

Image copyright Getty Images American Airlines has confirmed it will seek $12bn (£9.7bn) of financial support from the US government because of the impact of coronavirus. Employees were told in an email this “would allow us to fly through even the worst of potential future scenarios”. It said it would mean “no involuntary furloughs or

Image caption Victoria Repa avidly read business books as a child The BBC’s weekly The Boss series profiles different business leaders from around the world. This week we speak to Ukrainian entrepreneur Victoria Repa, founder of weight-loss and fitness app BetterMe. Victoria Repa had an unlikely start in life for a successful tech entrepreneur –

Image copyright Getty Images The four companies which manage ground operations at UK airports have warned that they are close to collapse, putting thousands of jobs at risk. Swissport, WFS, Dnata and Menzies may not be able to continue operating for more than a few weeks, with some 25,000 jobs under threat. In a joint

Image copyright Getty Images Millions of plants, shrubs and trees could be binned in the coming days and weeks, meaning ruin for UK growers. The closure of 2,000 garden centres and nurseries mean makers of what’s called “ornamental horticulture” have no outlet for their plants. The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) is asking the government for