Consumers stay south but slow to spend

CONSUMERS are no longer flocking to the North but many are stillreluctant to part with their cash.

The KBC/ESRI consumer sentiment index has also found that almost three out of four people expect unemployment to increase this year. This news comes as retail groups say hundreds of stores are on the brink of closure.

The KBC/ESRI index rose in January to 48.7 from 44.4 in December. This is well down from the 64.6 recorded in January 2010.