Monday newspaper round-up: Retailers, UK economy, Travelodge

The Treasury should act to help more than a million people who have fallen through the cracks in the government’s Covid-19 income support schemes, according to a report by an influential group of MPs. The all-party Treasury select committee said large numbers of people are enduring financial hardship and are unable to benefit from the chancellor’s schemes for salaried employees and the self-employed. – Guardian

Retailers are appealing to customers to support their local shops to help them survive the coronavirus pandemic, which has devastated high street trade. “It’s really important people go back to using their high street,” said Gary Grant, the owner of toy chain The Entertainer. “We employ local people in local towns and if I want to hold on to my staff I need turnover.” – Guardian

The scale of the challenge facing retailers opening their doors for the first time since March is laid bare today by worrying new evidence suggesting half of shoppers could stay away. The exclusive YouGov poll for The Daily Telegraph also suggests that four in ten consumers will cut spending below pre-lockdown levels as the economic havoc wrought by Covid-19 raises fears over mass unemployment. – Telegraph

Britain’s economy will shrink by 8 per cent this year but it should rebound faster than initially expected, according to the EY Item Club. After official figures released last week showed that the economy shrank at its fastest pace on record in April, the forecasting body downgraded its predictions for the year from a previous estimate of a 6.8 per cent contraction. – The Times

Landlords to the hotel chain Travelodge have warned they may reject its restructuring plan this week if they do not get clarity about a £40 million investment by its owners. The group of landlords demanded more details yesterday about the proposed investment before deciding how to vote at a meeting on Friday. – The Times