Actors dressed as Santa Claus race on scooters past John Lewis department store along Oxford Street during a photo call to promote Christmas shopping in London in this November 5, 2008 file photo. From Britain to China, governments and retailers are dreaming up innovative ways to persuade people to part with cash that bankers won't lend. On the bright side, for the shopper who has cash to spare, Christmas looks like being a reasonable deal. The worry is consumers will simply pay off debts. And - sensing prices could fall yet further - some are holding back in the hope of scooping bigger bargains later. Reuters Pictures logo Reuters Pictures 42 months ago

Actors dressed as Santa Claus race on scooters past John Lewis department store along Oxford Street during a photo call to promote Christmas shopping in London in this November 5, 2008 file photo. From Britain to China, governments and retailers are dreaming up innovative ways to persuade people to part with cash that bankers won't lend. On the bright side, for the shopper who has cash to spare, Christmas looks like being a reasonable deal. The worry is consumers will simply pay off debts. And - sensing prices could fall yet further - some are holding back in the hope of scooping bigger bargains later.

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