Week 23: A new lick of paint

This week you could feel summer winding down with many people starting to drift back from the last of their holidays. Just another week and with a revving of engines everything will be back to full strength… Observations for the week.

  • We have all been doing more DIY over lockdown. I decided it was time to do a bit of painting before the autumn sets in… I found out just how much I normally touch door paintwork… once it was wet… a reflexive action – all over hands and arm… more to learn about the skills of painting!
  • Also made a first post lockdown visit to a restaurant this week… all very strange… a 1 in 1 out system to limit numbers yet… once inside was really not much different… I have a feeling this will not be good for my waistline… it was good to be back.
  • Workwise, more tough economic news, with some segments in society reportedly struggling with regular household bills… it is really starting to feel like there is some polarisation going on between those who are just fine and those that are struggling… a watching brief on how this develops further.

Have a good week everyone… @chris_w_tweet

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Stresses starting to show: weekly roundup 21 August 2020

This was a week when it felt the economic stresses of lockdown really seemed to starting to show and were reported more widely.

All of this still seems to be building towards some sort of crunch point at the end of the summer, early autumn.

After the summer is after all when the UK furlough (which still covers 12% of the workforce) and payment deferral schemes are due to expire. Evictions are also due to restart in England too.

All of this piling more pressure on the consumer at the same time… potentially a building storm front.

It is not necessarily all bad news for everyone though, there were some brighter spots showing a bounce back somewhat quicker than expected.

  • The 2nd hand car market, prices see to have returned to more normal levels, as the economy gets moving and people turn to driving rather than public transport… good news for motor finance (and maybe even oil prices) longer term.
  • Retail sales seem to be returning, with what seems to be a sustained movement to online too. (Although CFO’s reportedly do not seem to be that prepared should sales do not return to previous levels).
  • Digital and touchless processing also continues as a running theme, with a move to cashless payments, in part due to fears regarding COVID, although this will also help the velocity of payments, hence the economy too.

So this is starting to maybe be a story of polarisation. Those that are impacted negatively could be impacted significantly, but many may not be impacted at all…. one to watch closely and see how it develops.

Lastly, on a more personal note, I was sorry to see the closure of STA travel. For many of us, this was the travel agency we booked and travelled much of the world when we were younger and could (actually) travel… good experiences and many memories, they will be missed.

Have a good weekend everyone…. @chris_w_tweet

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Week 22: Rain and Shine

The hot weather broke this week and somehow working inside seemed easier, looking at the rain rather the sweltering days earlier in the week… the observations this week.

  • Lots of us have been growing vegetables during lockdown, myself included… I am now, unfortunately, suffering from peak courgette (zucchini)… they are now in every meal with more growing before they can be eaten, some the size of submarines lurking beneath the foliage… I keep repeating to myself…’this will pass’ and ‘I will miss them when they are gone’!
  • I also took a visit to the hospital and was amazed how the experience has been transformed since the lockdown… no stuffy waiting rooms, little queuing, and car parking spaces… Also thinking about everything the staff must have been through there, they do an amazing job.
  • Workwise a busy week. With the economic+ news there is still ‘the calm before the storm’ feeling… Somehow the summer has allowed us to forget about everything a little and am trying to not think about the mood when it is really over. Another few weeks, to make the most of it.

It’s a rainy Sunday evening here, time for dinner…courgettes!

Have a good week everyone… @chris_w_tweet

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