Retailers could face Christmas carnage as skint shoppers stay away, experts warn

RETAILERS face Christmas carnage as skint shoppers stay away, experts predict.

They say the cost of living crisis and fears of future tax rises mean many people will cut back on present buying.

And that could mean more store closures and redundancies.

Last year 10,494 shops closed and 119,405 staff lost their jobs.

Earlier this month the restaurant chain TGI Fridays closed 35 sites and axed 1,000 jobs.