Best before
The government plans to introduce labels on domestic appliances informing consumers how long they are likely to last. Which appliances have lasted the longest?
— In 2017, Sydney and Rachel Saunders of Exeter, both in their eighties, were reported to be getting rid of appliances bought soon after their marriage in 1956 and still working. They included a Baby Belling cooker, bought for £19; a Servis washing machine, bought for £60; and a Burco dryer.
— In 2013, a couple from Montgomery in New York state were reported still to be using a General Electric refrigerator which was made between 1929 and 1931.
Flu away
How many people took up the offer of a flu vaccine this winter compared with last? 2020 figures cover September to December:
2020 | 2019
Over-65s | 80% | 71%
Under 65s at clinical risk | 52% | 41%
Pregnant women | 43% | 41%
50- to 65-year-olds | 26% | n/a
Two-year-olds | 54% | 37%
(50- to 65-year-olds not offered vaccine in 2019)
Source: Public Health England
Business end
How many businesses went bust in 2020?
— The Insolvency Service recorded 12,557 insolvencies over the year, down from 17,225 in 2019 and the lowest since 1989.
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