The Wire

Deeply troubling circumstances, that’s how the figures on the national economy released today are being described by at least one economist, while others are simply stunned. The figures were cushioned though, buy the spending spike which followed the government’s handouts before Christmas. And the prospect of more and and more wide ranging generosity coming up, witht eh 42 billion dollar stimulus, has shopkeepers feeling optimistic. Director of The Australian Retailers Association, Richard Evans, today called on consumers to come out of waht he calls financial hibernation and start spending in earnest.