Nearly half firms see sales fall as "sustained cash crunch"

The BCC's quarterly economic report reveals that 66% of respondents in the hotels and restaurants industry recorded a decline in sales and bookings between June and the end-of September.

A BCC spokesman said the "eat out to help out" scheme, which ran throughout August and offered discounts on the meals provided in pubs, restaurants and cafes, brought in "pretty negligible" consequences for the sector as a whole.

The survey of 6.410 businesses, which employ more than 580.000 people across the UK, found that the third quarter of 2020 was "exceptionally weak" despite the fact that much of the UK economy has remerged.

The BCC said 37% reported declines in investment in facilities while 46% thought investment plans remained at an all-time low following the outbreak of the pandemic.

Almost half of companies, 46%, reported declines in domestic turnover compared with 73% for the second quarter.

In the third quarter 21% of the companies reported an improvement in cash flow, 34% did not report a change and 45% reported a worsening.