Black Friday
When and where did the term ‘Black Friday’ originate?
— It was used to describe a collapse in financial markets on 24 September 1869, prompted by the revelation of a Wall Street conspiracy to drive up the gold price. But in modern usage it was coined by police in 1950s Philadelphia, who had all leave cancelled following Thanksgiving after an influx of shoppers and American football fans into the city centre.
— In 1961 retailers in the city saw the potential to boost business by adopting the term. Another explanation is that they saw it as the day by which they would have taken sufficient revenue to ensure making a profit for the year — the day when their accounts moved from red to black.
Weighing up Brexit
The CBI welcomed the deal on Brexit. But what do leaders of small businesses think?
— In the 2016 referendum, 45% voted leave and 49% remain.
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