ITV News: "What's in store? New figures point to a grim 2013 for retail"

Link to web site

"Today the British Retail Consortium (BRC) has released it's [sic] highly significant monitor of the sector - which has such a large data sample, that it accounts for stores employing well over a million workers.

"Not only was footfall down in December and a record number of shops closed...there are alarming signs for the future. Half of the retailers questioned say they are considering lay-offs in the first quarter of 2013. This goes much further than the usual post-Christmas shedding of seasonal staff."

"Britain's job culture is
still mired in insecurity"

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Evening Standard
"Embattled retailers get a boost
from surprise sales jump"

"The High Street earned some respite from a nightmare
start to the year today, as the CBI reported far stronger than 
expected sales in the first half of January.

"[But] Capital Economics’ Martin Beck said:

“This is a so-so result. The downside is that retailers
don’t share much confidence over the next couple of months.
High inflation and weak wages will continue to cap
consumer spending.”

Evening Standard:
"Wake up and smell the coffee"