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For many in logistics and supply chain, especially in retail, the fundamentals of the Christmas peak are ingrained.

Royal Mail and JAS Forwarding have signed leases at Heathrow Logistics Park.

Growth in retail sales “is beating even the most optimistic expectations” as consumers have increased spending despite pandemic.

At a time when internet retail sales are already at a record high, the anticipated spike in online orders expected to be generated by this Autumn’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales season will mean that fulfillment companies and their courier partners are likely to find themselves under greater pressure than ever.

Yesterday, England was introduced to a three-tier lockdown system. Which is probably something we’re all going to be experts on in a few weeks, despite being baffled at the outset. For those in tier one (currently the vast majority of Merseyside) one of the rules means that pubs just selling drinks will have to close, but if they serve food they can open.

Sea, air and rail ports in England will be invited to bid for freeport status before the end of the year, with the government aiming for the first freeport in the UK to be open for business in 2021.

E-commerce sales could be 169% higher than shopping in store during the Christmas peak, a survey by one artificial intelligence supplier has found.

Christmas 2020 is set to break online shopping records as growth continues to accelerate due to the global coronavirus pandemic, with overall e-commerce sales expected to jump from initial predictions of 11% to 19% reaching £78.9bn (source: Edge Retail Insight).

Logistics UK (formerly the Freight Transport Association) has warned that if the government does not consider the economic impact of its latest coronavirus containment measures it could lead to further job losses.