The Brits have found the golden lining to gray economic clouds, with the yummiest example being a new candy created for the London department store, Selfridges & Co.

While Credit Crunch candy may seem a simple indulgence to help ease the force-fed diet of economic gruel, it illustrates one smart tactic to encourage consumers back to the stores. The British Retail Consortium states that retail sales are down 2.2% for October on a same-store basis, so they need to take steps to tempt consumers back. In America, Deloitte’s 23rd Annual Holiday Survey of retail spending and trends indicates that 59% of consumers expect to spend less this season. In fact, 11% are still paying off last holiday season’s spending binge. (more…)