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Rising fuel and food prices are affecting nearly everyone – and that means we’re all on the lookout for a bargain. So if you’re feeling the pinch, what are you doing about it?

UP: Online sales at N. Brown

Are you, like some shoppers, turning to Greater Manchester’s markets for your fruit and veg? Or are you trying out some of the region's budget supermarkets for your weekly shop?

Certainly, shoppers going into the typical high street stores in Manchester city centre are not spending like they used to.

For instance, in September 2008, JJB Sports reported that sales in the first six months of the year were down 5% as the Wigan-based sports retailer blamed the 'worst retail recession' it's ever known for a £9.7m loss.

DOWN: sales at JJB Sports

However, online sales figures suggest that more of you are hunting for bargains on the internet since the credit crunch began.

Manchester-based mail order and home shopping company N Brown, which includes JD Williams, Simply Be and Oxendales, recently reported that online sales were up by a massive 50% over the past 12 months.