英语杂谈：88 Weak Festival Sales in US

Anchor: When the Christmas carol is sounding everywhere in the United States to highlight the holiday season, some economists¹ in the country are giving dismal² predictions that this could be the worst holiday shopping season since 1991. The shopping season is yet to wind up and the final holiday sales statistics are yet to come out to verify the prediction. But our Washington correspondent shanshan finds out, one thing is for sure, that is consumers are feeling the pinch under the economic downturn.

Reporter: At the Pentagon shopping mall in Arlington, Virginia, I've done a random³ survey of people passing by. Thirty percent of them say their Christmas shopping is the same this year, not affected⁴ by the overall stagnant⁵ economic environment.

Jessica Lynn is one of the happy shoppers.

"It's the same, no difference."

Sarah Walmark has finished Christmas shopping, and says it's so far so good for this year, but she's not sure what it's going to be for the next Christmas.

"I already have money set aside for this year, but next year, things are line and maybe I won't have money set aside for the next year."

The mall is decorated with beautiful Christmas trees, dazzling lights and festoons. Amid the lively Christmas carols, people are busy with last-minute shopping. But as Tom Hoppin, a retired⁶ banker who lives in the neighborhood sees it, it's obviously quieter in the mall than it was last year.

"I think people are spending a lot less and the result of that is there is less frantic⁷ activity. I brought my son and daughter-in-law here, they live in Zurich, Switzerland. And they are here, we couldn't believe walking into this mall how quiet and peaceful it seemed. "

Hoppin says his family is changing the gift-giving tradition this year. While kids are getting pretty much the same amount of presents, adults are expecting less gifts from each other.

"In our family, our past tradition is each adult gives each of the other adult a present. And this year, we're having what we call a Secret Center, meaning that one present is given to somebody else in the family. So each adult will only get one present instead of maybe ten. So there is the sense of gift giving, the expectation, but just less, it works out nicely. "

Brian Shaffman works as a salesman at the shoe section of the Macy's department store in the mall. He says he's observed a reduced flow of customers during this holiday season.

"In women's shoes where I work in Macy's, I've seen an influx⁸ of business. But in the whole mall, I think business is definitely decreasing from the last year at this time. A lot of people are at the mall, but fewer of them are carrying bags, purchased items than last year. So I think that it's the tradition to go out to the mall and be seen, walk around, but I don't think people are buying much. "
Retailers¹⁰ have done whatever they could to boost the final sales, by giving out drastic price cuts, and extending hours. Some are staying open for 24-hour periods in a last-ditch effort to capture sales. Louis Callagy, spokeswoman for Gap, a famous clothes retailer⁹, says:

"No retailer is insulated from the macroeconomic pressures, and at Gap, we're looking to manage promotions¹¹, to drive traffic and to turn around the momentum¹² of our business."

This has worked to lure¹³ some customers. Jeremy Gateraoski says he is looking for bigger discounts at the last-minute shopping.

"I look for more sales so I could save money for bills and things like that."

So is Michelle Pensy.

"It is on sale, drastically reduced."

From what I see, the festive¹⁴ atmosphere is strong and the Christmas sale is not that bad. But apparently¹⁵, people tend to be more careful when spending money, and are modifying their festival traditions to cope with the gloomy economy.

 

1 economists   

n.经济学家，经济专家( economist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The sudden rise in share prices has confounded economists. 股价的突然上涨使经济学家大惑不解。
• Foreign bankers and economists cautiously welcomed the minister's initiative. 外国银行家和经济学家对部长的倡议反应谨慎。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 dismal   

adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的

参考例句：

• That is a rather dismal melody.那是一支相当忧郁的歌曲。
• My prospects of returning to a suitable job are dismal.我重新找到一个合适的工作岗位的希望很渺茫。

3 random   

adj.随机的；任意的；n.偶然的(或随便的)行动

参考例句：

• The list is arranged in a random order.名单排列不分先后。
• On random inspection the meat was found to be bad.经抽查，发现肉变质了。

4 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

5 stagnant   

adj.不流动的，停滞的，不景气的

参考例句：

• Due to low investment,industrial output has remained stagnant.由于投资少，工业生产一直停滞不前。
• Their national economy is stagnant.他们的国家经济停滞不前。

6 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

7 frantic   

adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的

参考例句：

• I've had a frantic rush to get my work done.我急急忙忙地赶完工作。
• He made frantic dash for the departing train.他发疯似地冲向正开出的火车。

8 influx   

n.流入，注入

参考例句：

• The country simply cannot absorb this influx of refugees.这个国家实在不能接纳这么多涌入的难民。
• Textile workers favoured protection because they feared an influx of cheap cloth.纺织工人拥护贸易保护措施，因为他们担心涌入廉价纺织品。

9 retailer   

n.零售商(人)

参考例句：

• What are the retailer requirements?零售商会有哪些要求呢？
• The retailer has assembled a team in Shanghai to examine the question.这家零售商在上海组建了一支团队研究这个问题。

10 retailers   

零售商，零售店( retailer的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• High street retailers reported a marked increase in sales before Christmas. 商业街的零售商报告说圣诞节前销售量显著提高。
• Retailers have a statutory duty to provide goods suitable for their purpose. 零售商有为他们提供符合要求的货品的法定义务。

11 promotions   

促进( promotion的名词复数 )； 提升； 推广； 宣传

参考例句：

• All services or promotions must have an appeal and wide application. 所有服务或促销工作都必须具有吸引力和广泛的适用性。
• He promptly directed the highest promotions and decorations for General MacArthur. 他授予麦克阿瑟将军以最高的官阶和勋奖。

12 momentum   

n.动力，冲力，势头；动量

参考例句：

• We exploit the energy and momentum conservation laws in this way.我们就是这样利用能量和动量守恒定律的。
• The law of momentum conservation could supplant Newton's third law.动量守恒定律可以取代牛顿第三定律。

13 lure   

n.吸引人的东西，诱惑物；vt.引诱，吸引

参考例句：

• Life in big cities is a lure for many country boys.大城市的生活吸引着许多乡下小伙子。
• He couldn't resist the lure of money.他不能抵制金钱的诱惑。

14 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。

15 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。