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Company payrolls have fallen by 730,000 since the start of the coronavirus crisis lockdown as the UK braces for a feared acceleration in unemployment. Data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed a leap of 81,000 last month alone, despite continuing support for employers via government loan vehicles and the Job Retention Scheme for furloughed workers. The claimant count - which covers those claiming benefits for unemployment and because they are on low incomes - rose 116.8% to 2.7 million between March and July.
Retail sales rose again in July, but shops are still trying to make up lost ground, industry body figures suggest. They show the number of visits to High Streets is still down significantly as people shop online instead. The British Retail Consortium (BRC) said some retailers continue to struggle due to the coronavirus crisis, and it made a fresh call for government help with rents. The housing ministry said landlords and tenants should "find solutions that work for both parties". Retail sales rose for the second consecutive month in July, the BRC said, up 3.2% compared with the same month last year. But the picture for retailers was mixed.
Apple chief executive Tim Cook has moved into the billionaire club as the tech firm's share price continues to soar. Apple's market value has been on the rise following strong results and the upbeat outlook for tech giants. Mr Cook owns 847,969 shares directly and took home more than $125m (£96m) last year as part of his pay package. Last week, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg saw his personal wealth hit $100bn (£76bn). Technology companies including Apple, Facebook and Amazon have seen their profits grow during the coronavirus pandemic as more people went online. Silicon-Valley based Apple is now closing in on the milestone of being the first company to be valued at $2tn. Two years ago it become the first company to be valued at $1tn.
#Apple #COVID19 #UK #Kalkine
