Shops have been offering huge discounts both before and after Christmas;good news for anyone brave enough to dip into their purse, but a big signal of the distress in the sector.

• 圣诞假日前后，商家纷纷大打折扣，对于仍然敢于花钱的人不失为好消息，反过来也说明了零售业的萧条。