MIXED messages about the economy and the impact of public spending cuts are forcing retailers to plan ahead for another cautious Christmas, retail experts in the North- East have said.
Despite reports of an increase in like-for-like sales in June, PricewaterhouseCoopers has found that the majority of retailers in the North- East are planning to stock moderately for Christmas.
To take advantage of consumers spreading their spending, many retailers plan to launch their Christmas ranges as early as possible.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here