Almost 90% workers are worried about their job prospects over the next 12 months, according to the survey, which also revealed that just 13% believe the UK will pull out of recession within the next year. Half of respondents said their finances were in poor shape while almost half said they had to reign in their spending. 

“This survey suggests the economy’s climb back to growth will be harder and slower than the government claims,” Stephen Robertson, director general of the BRC, told the UK’s Daily Telegraph. “Only 13%  of people believe we’ll be out of the recession by this time next year. Six months ago nearly one in five thought the recession would be over by this Christmas.

“Customers and retailers will go on suffering for a good while yet. It’s business that will get us out of recession and retail is a key driver of growth. That means every time a minister thinks up a new idea that will impose regulations and costs, they must ask themselves – is this extra handicap really necessary now?”