LONDON (
Reuters) - When Santa Claus visits crisis-hit Europe this Christmas, his sack may not be quite so bulging with presents.
Rising prices, muted wages growth and swingeing austerity measures have squeezed disposable incomes across the region. And fears a debt crisis could blow the euro apart and bring down banks have dashed hopes of an improvement any time soon.
Consumer confidence in the 27-nation European Union (EU) sunk to its lowest level this year in October.
"I am definitely spending less this year," said Ben Bauer, 37, a machine operator at a hospital in Berlin, Germany. .......(more)
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http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-rt-us-retail-europe-christmastre7al0v6-20111122,0,3029587.story