No Christmas cheer as Kenyans feel inflation squeeze

To arrest the downturn, retailers are rolling out Christmas offers earlier this year. [iStockphoto]

Local businesses are bracing themselves for a tough festive season as hard-pressed Kenyans contend with a worsening cost of living crisis by cutting back on spending.

With the most profitable season of the year for many businesses approaching, one survey underlines the extent of the squeeze on household budgets caused by Kenya's near double-digit inflation rate.