For a long time, the Germans held the deutsche mark as a proof of normality, something that held them together.

The World Cup motto is 'A Time to Make Friends,' and friends should be offered friendly opening times. We want to campaign for shopping in Germany so the more than 1 million visitors in Germany for the World Cup come back to go shopping.

We now expect that on balance things could improve slightly in 2006.

People are aware that they have a major problem with their retirement pensions [and] health insurance - they know that they're going to have to contribute more. That makes them insecure.

The Germans have a different consumption mentality: They don't get into debt.

Everything depends on this week and whether people will come to the shops in droves to spend the money they have been given as presents.