Claire’s files for US bankruptcy for second time in seven years

Tween jewellery retailer is hit by a slowdown in consumer spending and the switch to online shopping

The tween jewellery and ear-piercing retailer Claire's has declared bankruptcy in the US for the second time in seven years amid a slowdown in consumer spending and the switch to online shopping.

The US accessories retailer, which has more than 2,700 stores in 17 countries including the UK and France, said in papers filed with a court in Delaware that it had debts of between $1bn and $10bn.