By Tan Dawn Wei and Lee Xin En

YOUTHS in Singapore are the new darlings of retailers, going by the effort made by malls to woo them.

While they lack earning power, they have 'staying power' - they linger longer, and hang out in groups.

The 1980s saw a rash of malls, but with only a few becoming youth hangouts. There were the 'Centrepoint Kids' while a teen haven nestled at Far East Plaza, still a popular hangout.

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