BBC News Magazine

The UK remains in economic decline according to figures announced on Friday, and businesses on many High Streets are still feeling the pinch. A year after first visiting Southampton's Shirley High Street, we return to ask our team of shopkeepers about their mood.

Shop	Jan 09	Oct 09	October outlook
Greengrocer Phil Rolf			"People might think things are better now because shops are taking on more staff for Christmas�after Christmas it will be a different story." Full story
Butcher Jamie Mills			"At the start, trade did go down a bit but it's picked up again now, and we're doing quite well, can't really grumble." Full story
Charity Debbie Neary			"We�re 14% up on this time last year. People are looking for bargains because of the economic climate." Full story
Discount store Peter Gallagher			"We've had more opposition so we've had to raise our game. We've had to up the quality of our goods while trying to hold the price down." Full story
Estate agent Steve Jones			"Business is still very tough, the last 18 months have been very difficult for us, but thankfully we are seeing signs that the market is recovering." Full story
Outdoor gear Graham Tucker			"It�s the best it�s ever been. A lot more people have been going camping. We couldn�t get enough tents in over the summer." Full story
Restaurant Eamon Tang			"I think the recession is still here and it�s getting worse. I think business was better at the start of the recession. Now it�s getting worse." Full story
Tanning shop J Burlingham			"It�s hard for us because it�s our first year but we�re going to get through it. We�re up on this time last year...but we�re not in profit." Full story
Amusements Clare Kimber			"I think it's going to get worse before it gets better. I think we have got a good few years of just paying back all this money." Full story
Shoe repairs Tony Diaper			"We took �400 in shoe repairs in one Saturday, which is much better than a year ago. I think people have got money but they don�t want to spend it." Full story
Card shop Gary Newman			"It's far too early to suggest we're coming out of recession. I think we have got another year of difficult trading ahead..." Full story
Mobile phones Stuart Fairbairn			"Business has done very well to be fair... People seem to be coming in and seem to be spending more than last year to be honest." Full story
TV shop Robert Gibbs	N/A		"Due to the general unease, customers are a bit cash-conscious. Compared to two or three years ago, people have down-sized." Full story
Pub Rob Gardener	N/A		"We've only been here for a few weeks so I can't judge what it was like before that, but business seems OK to me." Full story

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