For many people, ‘retail therapy’ offers the ultimate salvation from the stresses of modern living. But a major new study now suggests that for millions of people, binge shopping is 1 longer an emotional cure-all. 2 anything, it may make you feel worse. ‘For significant numbers, dissatisfaction is now part of the shopping process; said Lucy Purdy of analysts Publicis, which 3 out the nationwide study. ‘Shopping offers a short-term buzz, and, 4 a society, we now recognize this and we’re getting fed 5 with short-term emotions.’ The Publicis researchers said retailers should tailor their marketing more carefully so that shoppers don’t feel that they are being tricked 6 making unnecessary purchases. The psychologist Oliver Lames said: ‘We’re now seeing a generation which has been brought up to believe that the pursuit of status and wealth is the route to fulfilment, which has 7 out to be manifestly not true. In fact, 8 rich you are has no bearing whatsoever on your mental health or well-being.’