Northumberland street, adja-cent to the Eldon Square shopping centre, is awash with people. Their retail enthusiasm contrasts with the fear gripping those looking a little way ahead. A strategist at a local trade association predicts that "2011-12 will be carnage year."rnThe fear has to do with jobs. More than one job in three in Newcastle upon Tyne is in the public sector-in administration, education and health. The British average is about one in four and only Liverpool, among the bigger cities, is more dependent on the public sector. If, as is widely predicted, big cuts and "efficiency savings" in public spending lie ahead, they are likely to hit Newcastle hard, though perhaps some public jobs will be moved north from London.
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