A downbeat Christmas looms amid cost-of-living crunch

The cost of living is always a concern for families. But this year, persistent inflation and rising interest rates have pushed household finances to the top of the national worry list. The latest Resolve Political Monitor survey conducted for The Sydney Morning Herald found 60 per cent of Australians are finding it harder to make ends meet compared with the same time last year. Two-thirds of shoppers will curb their Christmas spending this year, a new survey shows. Credit: Natalie Boog That consumer gloom will be felt this Christmas: according to the survey 66 per cent of respondents will curb their Christmas spending this year,…