Consumers increased spending on improving their homes and stockpiling goods in September in preparation for a tightening of restrictions, providing a boost for retailers.

Sales in the UK rose 5.6 per cent last month compared with the same period a year ago, according to data from the British Retail Consortium and the consultancy KPMG. That was above the six-month average decline of 1.1 per cent and the best annual growth rate of any month since December 2009, it found.

“September saw a big improvement in retail sales growth,” said Helen Dickinson, chief executive at the BRC, whose survey covers about 60 per cent of the industry.

“With office workers still at home for the foreseeable future, the sales of electronics, household goods and home office products have remained high,” she added. In contrast, more time spent at home and the cancellation of public events “have continued to hold back clothing

Technavio has been monitoring the global board games market size and it is poised to grow by USD 5.81 billion during 2020-2024. However, the market is expected to decelerate at a CAGR of over 15% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201012005073/en/

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Board Games Market 2020-2024 (Graphic: Business Wire).

Technavio’s in-depth research has all your needs covered as our research reports include all foreseeable market scenarios, including pre- & post-COVID-19 analysis. We offer $1000 worth of FREE customization

The market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will decelerate during the forecast period. Asmodee Holding, Clementoni Spa, CMON Ltd., Goliath Games LLC, Hasbro Inc., Mattel Inc., Monte Cook Games LLC, PD-Verlag, Ravensburger

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McDonald’s,

RPM International,

and

KB Home

were among the U.S. companies that declared dividend increases last week.

They come at a time when there are signs that dividends, many of which were cut or suspended due to the pandemic earlier this year, are stabilizing.

S&P Dow Jones Indices is now forecasting a 1% decline in S&P 500 dividend payments this year versus 2019 levels, an improvement from its forecast in May of a 3-4% drop.

While stuck inside during the pandemic, plenty of people have decided to spruce up their surroundings.

The result has been great for home improvement retailers such as Home Depot, Lowe’s and Ace Hardware, which have seen sales spike as the nation shelters in place. But the time and money people are putting into their homes now could have long-term benefits for a completely different industry—packaged-food manufacturers.

Sean Connolly, CEO of Conagra Brands, maker of Duncan Hines cakes, Orville Redenbacher’s popcorn and Slim Jim meat snacks, believes that even when a vaccine arrives and restaurants begin running at full capacity again, people will feel pulled toward spending more time around the house because of all the upgrades they’ve made to their kitchens, furniture and entertainment systems.

“Now that they’ve made these investments into nesting or cocooning—whatever you want to call it—we expect they’re going to want to get a return on

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    Historic courthouse renovation gets a boost (WNEP) — It is a boost to preserve history in Northumberland County: a $100,000 grant for Northumberland County from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.

That money will go toward preserving the historic county courthouse in Sunbury.

“We’ve been working on this courthouse, trying to get grants, trying to get money for probably the last year. We’ve had engineers come in, do studies,” said Northumberland County Commissioner Sam Schiccatano.

In total, the state gave out more than $2.5 million to preserve and restore historical spots all over Pennsylvania.

Northumberland County leaders say their grant will go toward fixing up the outside of the courthouse, which dates to 1865.

“Our courthouse and our prison was the location of the last conviction and execution of the last ‘Molly Maguire,’ which is a really interesting fact which I never knew,

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) – IKEA sees sales returning to growth this year after the coronavirus crisis boosted shoppers’ interest in spending more on their homes, a trend the world’s biggest furniture retailer believes is here to stay.

IKEA is shifting focus from its traditional large out-of-town stores towards e-commerce and smaller inner-city formats as it adapts to the growth of online retailing and new shopping habits.

Jon Abrahamsson Ring, an IKEA veteran who became CEO of brand owner and franchisor Inter IKEA in March, said that, including test formats stores, some 50 new stores would open in the current year, against around 30 in 2019/20. Most of IKEA’s new stores are in inner-cities.

Retail sales – sales of products and services at the 445 IKEA stores and online – shrank 4% in the year through August, to 39.6 billion euros ($46.7 billion).

Abrahamsson Ring told Reuters retail sales at comparable stores

It is a boost to preserve history in Northumberland County: a $100,000 grant for Northumberland County from the state Historical and Museum Commission.

© Provided by WNEP Wilkes-Barre/Scranton

That money will go toward preserving the historic county courthouse in Sunbury.

“We’ve been working on this courthouse trying to get grants, trying to get money for probably the last year. We’ve had engineers come in, do studies,” said Commissioner Sam Schiccatano.

In total, the state gave out more than $2.5 million to preserve and restore historical spots all over Pennsylvania.

Northumberland County leaders said their grant will go toward fixing up the outside of the courthouse, which dates back to 1865.

“Our courthouse and our prison was the location of the last conviction and execution of the last Molly MacGuire, which is really interesting fact which I never knew, and I just learned myself,” said Schiccatano.

County commissioners said the

The global home fitness equipment market size is poised to grow by USD 657.43 million during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of over 3% throughout the forecast period, according to the latest report by Technavio. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. The report also provides the market impact and new opportunities created due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Download a Free Sample of REPORT with COVID-19 Crisis and Recovery Analysis.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201005005436/en/

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Home Fitness Equipment Market 2020-2024 (Graphic: Business Wire)

The increased awareness about the importance of health and fitness as one of the primary growth factors for this market. Consumers are increasingly becoming aware of the importance of exercising and the availability of new and advanced equipment.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — The renovation to the Fort Kid playground area got a financial boost Wednesday from the Downtown Knoxville Alliance.

The organization is contributing $250,000 for an entryway path to the beloved playground.

Hedstrom Landscape Architecture has developed a concept for the slope and path to connect World’s Fair Park Drive with Fort Kid. The terminus of the sloped path at the top of the hill would be at a newly created accessible entrance to the play structure and a new accessible parking area. 

“The City is very appreciative of the supplemental funding approved by the Downtown Alliance, as well as the slope concept developed by Hedstrom Landscape Architecture,” Knoxville Deputy Chief Operating Officer Chip Barry said. “We look forward to activating the space and creating an accessible path with interactive features.” 

In May and June, the decaying retaining wall made of railroad ties and the 30-year-old timber

Vexed by work-from-home arrangements owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, homeowners are taking the long view and rethinking floor plans. The reality is, home offices are no longer a luxury.

In the initial three weeks of public health lockdowns in March, according to Gallup, the percentage of employed Americans working from home doubled to 62%. Of these workers, three in five said they’d prefer to work from home when restrictions are lifted. Homeowners are serious about dedicating room for work.

There’s a mainstay in mortgage finance poised to help in working from home. The Federal Housing Administration’s 203(k) rehabilitation mortgage insurance program is designed for borrowers to renovate when they purchase or refinance.

For over 40 years with Section 203(k) of the National Housing Act, FHA has been protecting lenders with fully-insured mortgage loans even as renovations are underway. In turn, the program opens access to much-needed renovation capital for borrowers.