European car registrations dropped in December, declining for the third month in row, industry data showed today. The drop came as measures to restrict a second coronavirus wave hit sales in most of the continent's largest markets. | In December, new car registrations dropped by 3.7% year-on-year to 1.215 million vehicles in the European Union, Britain and the countries of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). Sales in Europe's five largest markets posted different results. Registrations in the UK, France and Italy fell by 10.9%, 11.8% and 14.9% respectively, while Germany recorded a rise of 9.9% and sales in Spain remained unchanged year-on-year. | Disneyland Paris said today it was postponing its reopening by almost two months, to April 2, due to the resurgence of the Covid-19 pandemic. | France has suffered more than 70,000 deaths from the coronavirus pandemic, among the highest national tolls worldwide, and has begun a mass vaccination programme in an effort to ease lockdowns and revive the economy. On Sunday, the health ministry reported that France had vaccinated more than 422,000 people since the start of the vaccination campaign on December 26. | Some 460,000 people will receive the Pandemic Unemployment Payment this week - an increase of over 15% in the last seven days, according to the Department of Social Protection. | The 62,715 rise in claims reflects the re-introduction of tighter public health restrictions and more business closures as the prevalence of Covid-19 has risen in recent weeks. Construction saw the highest weekly increase of almost 75%, rising from 32,152 last week to 56,217 people, following the closure of many sites on Friday 9 January. However, today's total for PUP claims still falls short of the peak of around 600,000 claims last May.   |||