in brief…

Freesat, which has recently added Five to its platform, launched its largest advertising campaign to date that  will highlight the satellite TV service’s subscription-free high-definition (HD) offer and run across national newspapers, supplements, TV listings publications, commuter press and a wide range of digital media.
John Lewis has promised to match any discounting on the high street in the run-up to Christmas, as middle England’s favourite department store reported a sharp drop in trade.
The British Retail Consortium reported the worst sales figures for three years.  UK retail sales values fell 2.2% on a like-for-like basis, from October 2007, when they had risen 1.0%. Total sales were lower than a year ago for the first time since April 2005. The BRC attributed the negative sales figures to record low consumer confidence.
Skillsmart Retail, the Sector Skills Council for Retail, has urged retailers to take advantage of £350 million of extra skills funding promised by the government in order to raise their game in light of the economic downturn. Skills Secretary John Denham announced that small businesses will receive the funding to access free or subsidised training for their staff.