Amid widespread economic austerity, many Europeans are feeling the pinch this Christmas, and keeping a tight check on festive spending.

Across the continent, many say they'll not be buying their usual amount of Christmas food, while shop owners have been dropping prices to attract customers. In the Spanish capital Madrid, Christmas sales are down significantly on last year... while in Rome, food spending has also fallen.

It's not such a bleak picture in Paris though, where the high streets seem to have been less affected by financial worries. Recent surveys show average Christmas spending across Europe will fall by around point 8 percent.

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)