英伦广角 Issue 131 英零售商对圣诞销货持乐观态度

It's that time again. Having just scraped in November, already we are confronted with lights, decorations and all things festive¹. But in the retail² industry, Christmas is something that's definitely worth preparing for. Stores know it's their most important time of the year. What they don't know is how generous customers are going to be with their cash. Last year, December retail sales figures fell by  0.4% and that was without a looming³ recession. But in Selfridges in London, they are being optimistic.
 
 I think people are definitely uh, a little bit more cautious about what they are spending their money on. But the challenges to us to worth that a little bit harder and to make sure that their Christmas shopping experience is easy and enjoyable.
 
 Yes. I'm gonna spend this
 
No matter what happens, you know, you have to buy something
 
Cheaper presents, surely, and try to drink less champagne⁴
 
I might eat a little bit less, but apart from that, no, we should still enjoy Christmas
 
In Leeds, more optimism. This jeweler is already dealing⁵ with festive-minded shoppers. I keep hearing doom⁶ and gloom on the news and I'm thinking, oh, not gonna happen. But already we are finding people love Christmas shopping . It's in their minds. We've found people putting deposit something. It's really building in this Christmas, we are expecting to be really quite good.
 
What's certain this year is that high streets and shopping centers won't be holding back when it comes to decorations and festive music. They know that they play a crucial part in getting people to spend their money. The question is would it be enough.
 
Amanda Walker, SKYNEWS, Kingston in Surrey.

 

1 festive   

adj.欢宴的，节日的

参考例句：

• It was Christmas and everyone was in festive mood.当时是圣诞节，每个人都沉浸在节日的欢乐中。
• We all wore festive costumes to the ball.我们都穿着节日的盛装前去参加舞会。

2 retail   

v./n.零售；adv.以零售价格

参考例句：

• In this shop they retail tobacco and sweets.这家铺子零售香烟和糖果。
• These shoes retail at 10 yuan a pair.这些鞋子零卖10元一双。

3 looming   

n.上现蜃景（光通过低层大气发生异常折射形成的一种海市蜃楼）v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的现在分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近

参考例句：

• The foothills were looming ahead through the haze. 丘陵地带透过薄雾朦胧地出现在眼前。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Then they looked up. Looming above them was Mount Proteome. 接着他们往上看，在其上隐约看到的是蛋白质组山。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 回顾与展望

4 champagne   

n.香槟酒；微黄色

参考例句：

• There were two glasses of champagne on the tray.托盘里有两杯香槟酒。
• They sat there swilling champagne.他们坐在那里大喝香槟酒。

5 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

6 doom   

n.厄运，劫数；v.注定，命定

参考例句：

• The report on our economic situation is full of doom and gloom.这份关于我们经济状况的报告充满了令人绝望和沮丧的调子。
• The dictator met his doom after ten years of rule.独裁者统治了十年终于完蛋了。