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The government is pinning its hopes on Britons spending their way out of recession, and retailers have been slashing prices in an effort to get Christmas shoppers to splash out. Guardian writers visited shopping streets in five cities to see whether the tactics are working.
"With 50% discounts in Armani Exchange and similar cuts in Gap, Hobbs and Boss, there was no lack of bargains in Regent Street. But not everyone was enjoying the cut-price extravaganza. One man captured the frantic mood on the street. 'Look at all these people, ready to kill each other so they can spend their money,' he said."