Early Christmas shopping helps boost retail sales

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2020/11/20 17:52

Today's Vocabulary

1. recovery (n)
the
process of becoming well again after an illness or injury

2. retail (n)
the
activity of selling goods to the public, usually in store

3. statistics (n)
a
collection of numerical facts or measurements, as about people, business conditions, or weather

4. stalled (v)
to delay taking action or avoid giving an answer in order to have more time to make a decision or get an advantage

5. boosted (v)
to
improve or increase something

6. restrictions (n)
an
official limit on something

Early Christmas shopping helps boost retail sales

Early Christmas shopping and discounting by stores helped to lift UK retail sales in October, the latest official figures have indicated.

Sales rose by 1.2% last month, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said, the sixth month in a row that sales have increased.

Retailers said some shoppers appeared to have started Christmas shopping early ahead of new Covid restrictions. Online stores did well, but clothing sales weakened, the ONS said.

Deputy national statistician for economic statistics Jonathan Athow said: “Despite the introduction of some local lockdowns in October, retail sales continued its recent run of strong growth.

“Feedback from shops suggested some consumers may have brought forward their Christmas shopping, ahead of potential further restrictions. Online stores also saw strong sales, boosted by widespread offers.

“However, the slow recovery in clothing sales has stalled after five consecutive months of increased sales.”

Resource:https://www.bbc.com/news/business-55013182

Discussion
  1. Have you ever shopped online for Christmas presents?
  2. What is the typical menu for a Christmas meal in your family? (… in your country?)
  3. If you had a million dollars, what would you do during Christmas time?
  4. What did you get for Christmas? What did you give for Christmas?

The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.