Slovaks buying Christmas presents differently

According to analysts, the most sought-after Christmas presents this year will be plasma-screen televisions, electronic toys, cosmetics and clothes, Pravda daily reports. In a change from last year, more shoppers are preparing to wait for the January sales. A Terno agency analyst predicts that the most popular items in these sales will be skiing equipment and clothes. According to a spokesperson for Ahold, which runs the Hypernova supermarket chain, Slovak shoppers have become used to the idea of January sales. Around three quarters of Slovaks will leave their Christmas shopping to the last minute, but more and more people each year are buying presents several months in advance. Meanwhile, retailers are launching their Christmas ranges much earlier than in the past. Tesco, for example, began selling Christmas goods on October 17.