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It's been a tough year financially for many and yet Australian shoppers are forecast to spend $70bn in the run-up to Christmas.

Meanwhile, as Australia bans children under 16 from interacting on social media, the company that revived Nokia says it's been inspired by toymaker Lego to develop something which prises young people away from screens.

And respected columnist Robert Gottliebsen analyses the year ahead and says high-risk strategies by the RBA and from parliament could derail the national economy.