By 2030, and that estimate is at the conservative end of the scale. But falling birth rates and some of the highest inflation rates we ve seen in decades have created challenging conditions for manufacturers and retailers, and signal more tough times to come. While the covid pandemic boosted sales of toys and games temporarily, big name companies report that sales have started to slip back once again. Let s have a look at some of those numbers. Global toy sales reached $108] billion in 2023, a 2% drop compared to 2022, with toy companies calling it a normalisation process after that exceptional growth linked to the pandemic. But across the 612 countries, including the uk, france, germany, and spain, sales declined by 7% in 2023 compared with the previous year, but they were still 17% higher when compared to 2019, before the pandemic. I caught up with the boss of build a bear, a much loved company which allows shoppers to customise their own teddies. She s also the head of the global or
Give the toy industry a much needed boost? this time, it s not about spending on toys for children, but adults so called kidults. An emerging generation of over 18s is snapping up collectables and nostalgia brands, and they say it s good for their mental health. I m going to be discussing that and more with my guests the boss of build a bear, the stores where you can create a bespoke teddy bear, and the chief executive of the world s biggest toy company and arguably one of its most iconic brands, lego. I ll also be catching up with the president of the company behind leading toy brands barbie, hot wheels, fisher price and more that s mattel to find out how tv and movie tie ups are reviving his compa ny s fortunes. Wherever you rejoining me from around the world, once again, a big hello and a warm welcome to the programme. It s a billion dollar industry driven by creativity and innovation, with a global reach and a diverse market. The toy industry is forecast to reach $302 billi
Baby abdulrahman was crawling early, but now his mum worries he ll never be able to walk. He was the first child found to have polio in gaza in 25 years, and it paralysed his leg because of the war he wasn t vaccinated and now medical care is limited. He want to live and be treated. He wants to live and walk like other children. I feel a lot of guilt that he didn t get the vaccination, but i couldn t give it to him because of our circumstances. Displaced five times, the baby s family now lives in a crowded tent camp in deir al balah in central gaza. Raw sewage flows through streets nearby. Conditions are ideal for diseases to spread, especially polio, which is highly infectious. Since discovering the virus, un agencies have been racing to set up an emergency mass vaccination programme and with war raging, they ve negotiated three localised three day pauses in fighting with israel and hamas. Un officials say the plan is not ideal, but it s workable. What we re aiming at is to have 640,0
Gauff tookjust 66 minutes to get past her opponent at the arthur ashe stadium, winning in straight sets. Shell now face qualifier Tatjana Maria in the second round as she looks to retain her title, and despite a difficult few months that saw her lose in the third round of the paris olympics, gauff is feeling confident. I dont have to prove anything to anyone except myself, so this whole two weeks are about proving all the expectations i have on myself, so i thinkjust learning and realising i have a lot left to give this game. Whether it will happen this year or in the future, i have many more years coming back year and i would win every year. I thinkjust that perspective. Also safely through her opening match is last years runner up, aryna sabalenka. She beat qualifier Priscilla Hon in straight sets and will face italys Lucia Bronzetti in the second round after her opponent, lulu sun, retired. Manchester united have agreed a 50 Million Euro fee with Paris St Germain for midfielder manu
Good afternoon, and welcome to the bbc news at one. The Prime Minister says the governments first budget in october will be painful. Sir keir starmer was speaking in the rose garden at Downing Street ahead of parliaments return next week. He said labour had inherited an economic and societal black hole, but the conservatives called the Speech A Distraction from the promises he had no intention of keeping. Our Political Correspondent Hannah Miller reports. On Hannah Miller reports. A Beautiful Day in the down street on a Beautiful Day in the Downing Street garden, the Prime Ministers message was not so sunny. Looking ahead to the autumn and signalling unpopular announcements to come. There is a budget coming in october. It is going to be painful. We have no other choice, given the situation we are in. Those with the broadest shoulders should bear the heavy a burden. I will have to turn to the country and make big asks of you as well. He country and make big asks of you as well. ,. ,. ,.