Austerity engulfs the high street, guardian.co.uk,
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/jun/28/austerity-high-street
(face the) axe dismissal, esp from employment; the sack (esp in the phrase get the axe)
(the British) high street (Brit) the main street of a town, usually where the principal shops are situated
(one of its most painful) bouts (of contraction) zápas, záchvat, perioda
go bust přijít na mizinu, zkolabovat, zkrachovat
shun (purchases) vyhýbat se, stranit se
call in administrators vyhlásit konkurz
appoint an administrator určit, jmenovat (konkurzního) správce (tj. vyhlásit konkurz)
(after a) slump (in sales) (náhlý) pokles, propad
cushion (shops from spiralling rent bills) to protect, esp against hardship or change
(at the height of the credit) crunch a shortage or reduction of something needed or wanted; distress or depressed conditions due to such a shortage or reduction
a retrenchment snižování nákladů/výdajů
(supply was) outstripping (demand) předčit, předběhnout
(you are in) dire straits a state of extreme distress
was at "saturation point" v bodě nasycení (tj. dál už to nejde)
by poaching custom from rivals krást, vyfouknout zákaznictvo konkurentům
mediocre (management) průměrný; of only ordinary or moderate quality; neither good nor bad; barely adequate; rather poor or inferior
"are probably toast" (Slang.) to be doomed, ruined, or in trouble
growing list of casualties - amid the biggest squeeze on household budgets for decades - as the government's austerity measures take hold - followed suit - amid fuel and food price inflation and rising job insecurity - a clutch of high street names - raising a question mark over the future of 4,000 employees - the retail carnage - the coalition's spending cuts - protest at reforms to pay and pensions - will leave them worse off - Underlining the difficulties, ... - households ate into savings to make up for a squeeze on incomes - Several thousand jobs are also going at Focus DIY - were at a high risk of going to the wall - you are subject to upward-only rent reviews on leased properties - general retailers were diversifying - as it posted a 40% fall in profits and axed the final dividend - Looking forward, over the next two years we expect - be recession-proof - starting to show cracks - feelgood factor in April and early May caused by the royal wedding and the bank holidays that gave retail a much-needed boost has now evaporated