Very.co.uk shrugs off tough retail market to post strong festive sales
Online retailer Very.co.uk has bucked woes among high street rivals with a hike in Christmas sales but wider group trading was hampered by its sister brand Littlewoods.
Christmas
Lidl ‘outperformed’ every other supermarket at Christmas
Supermarket Lidl said it outperformed every rival on the high street over the Christmas period, with bosses revealing families switched £110 million of their spend to the discounter.
Tesco shrugs off ‘subdued’ market to see festive sales edge higher
Supermarket Tesco has said it eked out a 0.1% rise in UK sales over Christmas trading despite “subdued” consumer spending.
Retailers suffer their worst year on record
Retailers have suffered their worst year on record as overall sales fell for the first time, according to the latest figures.
Staff late for shifts at Aberdeen hospital after First bus no-show
An Aberdeen bus firm has apologised after services in a city community failed to turn up despite being scheduled to do so.
Sainsbury’s sees Christmas sales fall amid difficult toy and games market
Supermarket giant Sainsbury’s has revealed lower sales over its Christmas quarter as a tough toy and video games market offset a robust performance in food and clothing.
Probe as man enters block of Aberdeen flats and opens mail in hunt for Christmas presents
A thief raided a mailbox in Aberdeen on the hunt for Christmas gifts.
Morrisons sees festive sales slide amid shopper uncertainty
Supermarket Morrisons has posted falling sales over the crucial festive season amid “unusually challenging” trading and shopper uncertainty.
Aberdeen tenants hit out at landlord announcing rent increase days after Christmas
Aberdeen tenants have criticised a social housing landlord for announcing a rent increase over the festive period.
North-east clairvoyant donates more than £1,800 to British Heart Foundation
A north-east medium is ending the year with a kind gesture – donating more than £1,800 to charity.
Easter eggs spotted on supermarket shelves just days after Christmas
Easter eggs have been spotted on supermarket shelves around the country just days after Christmas.
Aberdeen man who stole perfume from John Lewis and attacked security guard spent Christmas in custody
A shoplifter stole perfume to fund Christmas presents for his family – and then spent the festive period in custody.
FTSE ends 11-day run of growth as traders cash in
The London Stock Exchange’s blue chip index ended its Christmas rally of 11 straight days of growth by turning red on Monday – the final full day’s trading in 2019.
Comedian helps raise thousands of pounds for charity with Wham! game
Comedian Daniel Sloss has helped raise more than £5,000 for a homelessness charity through a game encouraging “players” to avoid hearing Wham!’s Last Christmas.
Aberdeen travel firm donates Christmas gifts to 500 north-east kids
An Aberdeen travel company helped to make 500 children’s Christmas dreams come true.
What captured the headlines in 2019?
Ongoing political turmoil, foreign diplomacy and the royal family were among the defining themes of 2019.
Police carried out extra patrols in north-east over festive period
Police Scotland has teamed up with Aberdeenshire Council to carry out additional patrols in the north-east during the festive period.
A decade in numbers
Brexit, royal babies and a climate crisis – here is how Britain changed over the past decade in numbers:
FTSE notches win for 11th time in a row as markets open after Christmas
The FTSE 100 remained largely unmoved on a quiet day for international markets, as its counterparts in Europe kept their doors shut for the Christmas period.
Delight as EE saves Aberdeen grandad’s Christmas gifts after Halford’s mix-up
An Aberdeen grandad has thanked the Evening Express for saving his family’s Christmas.
336 arrested during Hong Kong Christmas protests
Hong Kong police arrested 336 people over the Christmas period as the city’s protest movement continues to simmer, an official has said.
Motorists clocking up 450 miles each over Christmas – survey
Motorists are typically driving nearly 450 miles each over the festive period, a survey suggests.
Oil workers raise £8,000 for Aberdeen charity
Staff at a north-east oil firm have raised £8,000 for a homelessness and unemployment charity.
Six-year-old saves up pocket money to make festive parcel for police officers
A six-year-old boy has melted hearts by saving up his pocket money to buy a team of police officers sweet treats to tide them over on their Christmas shift.
In Pictures: Young royals make debut at Christmas church service
The younger members of the royal family have added another traditional family duty to their repertoire after joining the Queen at the Christmas Day church service on her Sandringham estate.
In Pictures: Santa thaws as hundreds brave Christmas Day swims
One of the more bracing Christmas traditions in some parts of the UK and Ireland is an outdoor swim in the sea or a lake.
Plea to donate unwanted gifts to Original 106 Christmas appeal
Instead of letting unwanted Christmas gifts of deodorant sets, shower gel and other toiletries go to waste, an Aberdeen charity wants people to donate them.
Thousands brave icy seas and lakes for Christmas swims
Thousands of people have turned out in Porthcawl in Wales for the traditional Christmas Swim, one of many being held around the UK.
George and Charlotte attend first Christmas Day church service with the Queen
Prince George and Princess Charlotte have joined the Queen at the royal family’s traditional Christmas Day church service on her Sandringham estate for the first time.
Duke and Duchess of Sussex share Christmas message on Instagram
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have posted a Christmas message on social media as they celebrate away from the Royal family this year.