From The Daily Star Lebanon: Christmas shopping volume sinks this season

BEIRUT: The first weeks of the holiday season have been deemed slow by merchants across the capital as Christmas shoppers hunted for bargains and relatively cheaper gifts, complaining that soaring foodstuff prices have eroded their ability to buy expensive presents and luxury items.

The Daily Star spoke Thursday to a number of shoppers and merchants in three major commercial districts of Beirut: Hamra, Burj Hammoud and at ABC in Sassine.

One easily made observation as one walks through these markets is that a majority of shop browsers walk empty-handed with some looking at the window displays while others check out the prices without buying anything.

For more, please see this: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Business/Lebanon/2011/Dec-16/157028-christmas-shopping-volume-sinks-this-season.ashx#axzz1gaim7DCN