This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/shortcuts/2013/apr/07/our-terrible-spring-winners-losers
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Our terrible spring: the winners and the losers | Our terrible spring: the winners and the losers |
| (8 days later) | |
| It's cold. You may have noticed. We have just emerged from the coldest March since 1962 into an April showing few signs of improvement. The long winter has blighted our wildlife and livestock, harmed our health and sparked fears of a triple-dip recession. But a few people – woolly-hat sellers, for example – have had a frozen field day. Here are the long winter's top winners and losers. | It's cold. You may have noticed. We have just emerged from the coldest March since 1962 into an April showing few signs of improvement. The long winter has blighted our wildlife and livestock, harmed our health and sparked fears of a triple-dip recession. But a few people – woolly-hat sellers, for example – have had a frozen field day. Here are the long winter's top winners and losers. |
| Winners | Winners |
| Energy suppliers Gas usage in March was around a third above the normal average, forcing wholesale prices up from 70p to 99p per therm. An epic win for gas suppliers if they can pass the costs on to us without sparking a riot. | Energy suppliers Gas usage in March was around a third above the normal average, forcing wholesale prices up from 70p to 99p per therm. An epic win for gas suppliers if they can pass the costs on to us without sparking a riot. |
| Airlines Thousands of holidaymakers have opted to flee the cold with last-minute flights to sunnier climes. Heathrow welcomed 100,000 extra fliers over Easter and travel agents have reported demand for their hotter destinations up by 50% on last year. Experts predict a corresponding rise in the quantity of uploaded photographs of smug Easter holidaymakers, and a corresponding fall in the number of people who follow and/or like them. | Airlines Thousands of holidaymakers have opted to flee the cold with last-minute flights to sunnier climes. Heathrow welcomed 100,000 extra fliers over Easter and travel agents have reported demand for their hotter destinations up by 50% on last year. Experts predict a corresponding rise in the quantity of uploaded photographs of smug Easter holidaymakers, and a corresponding fall in the number of people who follow and/or like them. |
| Lazy shoppers Spring collections are gathering dust in shops, meaning that even the best new ranges are unlikely to sell out too soon. | Lazy shoppers Spring collections are gathering dust in shops, meaning that even the best new ranges are unlikely to sell out too soon. |
| Winter clothing Sales of leather gloves at M&S are up 250% and its thermal clothing range is up 781%, while sales of winter clothes at John Lewis are 12% up on last year. Blokes selling dodgy scarves at markets have probably also done quite well. | Winter clothing Sales of leather gloves at M&S are up 250% and its thermal clothing range is up 781%, while sales of winter clothes at John Lewis are 12% up on last year. Blokes selling dodgy scarves at markets have probably also done quite well. |
| Hot drinks Mulled wine and hot chocolate are still tempting in April as we resort to using our own bodies as hot-water bottles. | Hot drinks Mulled wine and hot chocolate are still tempting in April as we resort to using our own bodies as hot-water bottles. |
| Losers | Losers |
| Our health The norovirus is back and coughs, colds and other viruses are on the move. "The weather means that people huddle in confined places more," explains GP Dr Kate Adams, "and that's why things are more contagious. I've seen four or five people with viral illnesses this morning in my surgery and that's unusual for April." | Our health The norovirus is back and coughs, colds and other viruses are on the move. "The weather means that people huddle in confined places more," explains GP Dr Kate Adams, "and that's why things are more contagious. I've seen four or five people with viral illnesses this morning in my surgery and that's unusual for April." |
| Campsites Happy campers are few and far between as siteowners face dwindling numbers and mass cancellations. | Campsites Happy campers are few and far between as siteowners face dwindling numbers and mass cancellations. |
| The economy Insurers have estimated the cost of the cold weather at £473m a day. That's enough to buy every person in the country five cheap hot chocolates every evening. Could be a vote-winner. | The economy Insurers have estimated the cost of the cold weather at £473m a day. That's enough to buy every person in the country five cheap hot chocolates every evening. Could be a vote-winner. |
| Animals Hibernating hedgehogs have overslept and are in danger of not waking up. Sheep and other livestock are fading away in the cold weather; 500 puffins are dead in Scotland and a 300-strong German flea circus has been entirely wiped out. | Animals Hibernating hedgehogs have overslept and are in danger of not waking up. Sheep and other livestock are fading away in the cold weather; 500 puffins are dead in Scotland and a 300-strong German flea circus has been entirely wiped out. |
| Gardens Sales at garden centres over Easter were down around 50% as gardeners gave up on trying to nurture anything but their own hopes of one day seeing the sun again. | Gardens Sales at garden centres over Easter were down around 50% as gardeners gave up on trying to nurture anything but their own hopes of one day seeing the sun again. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox every weekday. |