Retailers have stocked up on festive goodies, but will anyone buy them?

The fallout from the mini-budget is adding to high street jitters in the run-up to what is traditionally the busiest time of the year

Will it be a merry Christmas? It will certainly be one of the most uncertain ever for businesses. Inflation, the war in Ukraine and an erratic new cabinet are only adding to the jitters around Covid. And who knows whether England and Wales will bring joy or pain to football fans during the World Cup in Qatar.

Retailers were already feeling nervous before Liz Truss and Kwasi Kwarteng launched their mini-budget for growth - and sent the pound into freefall and mortgage rates soaring.