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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Business
Larry Elliott Economics editor

UK recession fears grow as shoppers cut spending ‘to save for Christmas’

Shoppers on Oxford Street this month under the Christmas lights , with a bus going by
The British Retail Consortium and Barclays say retail sales were down in October once inflation was taken into account. Photograph: Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Fears that the UK is heading for a recession this winter have intensified amid signs Britain’s hard-pressed households are cutting spending as they save for Christmas and higher fuel bills.

Two monthly snapshots of retail activity found shops and online outlets struggling because of consumer budgets being squeezed by dearer mortgages and the UK’s lingering cost of living crisis.

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