news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8400139.stm

Not only were shopper numbers down at the weekend but by a WHOPPING 5%.....

This was meant to be the weekend that saw the economy show some bounce back from an awful year last year.

Looks as if things have got worse.

Hold on to your hats because a 5% drop for many shops if matched by a spending drop of that amount will destroy many retail businesses.

The media are pumping out Christmas Stories by the hour and are attempting to force shoppers onto the High Street but it seems to have failed.

It was noticable at the weekend that London's venues and restaurants were pretty quiet for any time of year as well.

5%? Wow. Well, I didn't do any main shopping this weekend. I plan to do it next weekend. My sister was in town at the weekend and said it was so packed out she gave up trying to do her shopping and went home. She's doing most of hers midweek now.

Could it be more of a change in pattern than a slump?