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WITH 48 hours to go until Christmas Day, Chaguanas retailers are hoping for a big uptick in sales and yesterday claimed this was their “worst season so far”.

A range of businesses have reported “very poor” and “terrible” sales, with many blaming consumer caution over fear of war, unemployment and rising costs of living. Several business owners said they spent more this year to import a variety of goods, from toys to food, and were afraid of making little to no profit.

Some also quoted increased operating costs from next year as a result of higher electricity rates for commercial customers and the Government’s proposed “landlord tax”.