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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Business
Jonathan Prynn

West End stores fear weakest Christmas sales growth since the pandemic

Pandemic West End Dee Corsi NWEC the West End New West End Company United Kingdom
London’s West End fears a downbeat Christmas (David Parry/PA) - (PA Wire)

The West End is on course for its its weakest growth in peak Christmas trading since the pandemic as nervous shoppers rein in their spending amid fears about the economy, a key report warned today.

In its closely watched annual Christmas forecast, business group New West End Company (NWEC) said it expected spending to rise just 1.3% to £1.7 billion in November and December. With inflation currently at 3.8% that represents a significant fall in spending in real terms.

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