No shock there from my point of view. The department stores have been on a year long sale which seems never ending. I don't need anything so I don't buy anything! Re book stores, ours all closed down or went out of business on the coast. I only know of 2 left, and a second hand book store at Noosa. If I need a book I buy from bookdepository.co.uk because it's here in a week, it's cheaper and I can read reviews. The local books store would order books in (probably from bookdepository) and then charge me full price after a 2 weeks wait. ??? Newspapers are moving to an online model these days which I think it better anyway. I think our government is going about it all wrong, the damage done when the GFC hit was about 5% fact and about 95% people running around like headless chickens with "we are all doomed" placards! :stir If everyone settled down, carried on as usually we would be all right. If they need more $$$ raise GST 5% for a few years! In the UK they have 20% VAT and a damn sight less stupid taxes like we do here. There seems to be a tax for everything. Maybe they will start taxing coffee next seeing as cigarette revenue is falling! :coffee2: