Two-speed Xmas high street spend?

Retailers will be praying for a good week. Some stores such as John Lewis and Seldfridges won't have to worry much. But there's a roster of names out there - Blacks, Peacocks, HMV - in some trouble. Some stores have already slashed prices heavily, both big names and small independent retailers. It's estimated that a poor footfall could see up to 30,000 shop jobs at risk by 1 January.