Election fever has not helped the American retail cause with jeweller Signet reporting an 11% slump in underlying sales at its Kay chain over the last two months.
The Anglo-American group did not fare much better in the UK with sales at its Ernest Jones and H Samuel branches down 8%. Total sales fell 7.3% to $629.4m (£396m) in the 13 weeks to November 3.
Signet chief Terry Burman said: "The last seven weeks saw a marked deterioration, reflecting heightened consumer uncertainty."
British engineer Tomkins found demand for its car engines and air conditioners was as weak as that for Signet's diamond rings and watches.
Its shares dropped 6% after the group, which does more than half its business across the pond, said its results would be at the bottom of market expectations.
Given the grim outlook for 2009, analysts are worried Tomkins' profits could fall further next year.
