We can spend clearly now the pain is gone LET'S not be coy about this. There is one question that everyone in business is asking and that is; what's in store for 2014 and indeed for the years beyond? Where will be the opportunities and what will be the challenges? If this question had been posed just three years ago an accurate response would have been that consumer spending will be subdued. The cautiousness imposed by the global financial crisis will make consumers wary; they will be less inclined to max-out their credit cards and to take on large mortgages. The retail and building industry will struggle.