LIMA, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- Peru's retailers are having a banner year in Christmas sales, as Peruvians spent big at major shopping centers around the country.
During the Christmas season, stores selling holiday ornaments, computer games, household appliances, clothing, shoes and food were bustling with shoppers, reflecting the country's healthy economy.
Rosa Mendoza, 35, accompanied by her two children, 11 and nine, was among the throngs on Saturday at Open Plaza, located in the southern district of the capital Lima.
"The market is full of sophisticated toys like robots and romote-control helicopters and drones, mechanical things my children like," Mendoza told Xinhua.
"We are looking for the best prices and, honestly, here you can find all price ranges," said Mendoza, a wife, mother and cosmetologist at a beauty salon.
She believes Peru's President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, who took office at the end of July, has energized the economy.
"There seems to be more shopping during this year's Christmas holiday, perhaps because the economy has improved compared to last year," she said.
The latest economic report in December from the president of the Central Reserve Bank, Julio Velarde, indicated a substantial rise in this year's gross domestic product (GDP) compared with the year before.
Analysts are forecasting an economic growth of more than 4 percent in 2016, improving on 2015's GDP growth of 3.26 percent.
According to the consulting firm Global Research Marketing (GRM), end-of-year sales in Peru are expected to reach 1.1 billion U.S. dollars, fueled by end-of-year bonuses.
Felix Quispe, 29, was scouring the shopping center for just a perfect toy for his three-year-old daughter.
Quispe, a secondary-school teacher, said "her mother and I are looking for a toy that will develop her learning capacity, that's why we have gone to more than half a dozen stores, but we still haven't found the right gift."
"It could be a puzzle ... musical instrument or any toy apt for her age that can stimulate her mental abilities," he added.
Like holiday shoppers around the world, most Peruvians do their Christmas shopping about a week before, while 11 percent leave everything until the last minute and have to scramble on Dec. 24, according to a GRM study. Some 28 percent plan two weeks ahead, and 13 percent plan as far as a month ahead.
WASHINGTON nike chris paul shoes australia , Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Vice President Mike Pence walked out of an Indianapolis football game Sunday after several players kneeled in protest during the national anthem.
"I left today's Colts game because @POTUS and I will not dignify any event that disrespects our soldiers, our flag, or our national anthem," Pence tweeted after his exit, using the acronym for U.S. President Donald Trump.
US Vice President Mike Pence nike lebron james shoes australia , front center, stands during the playing of the national anthem before an NFL football game between the Indianapolis Colts and the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2017 nike kyrie irving shoes australia , in Indianapolis. (AP PhotoMichael Conroy)
Nearly two dozen players from the visiting San Francisco 49ers team had kneeled during the playing of the national anthem, a form of protest gaining traction among many athletes to protest against police brutality.
The protests has been criticized by Trump, who said protesting during national anthems was disrespecting the country and its military.
"I asked @VP Pence to leave stadium if any players kneeled, disrespecting our country. I am proud of him and @SecondLady Karen," Trump tweeted after Pence's exit.
The move reignited a debate whether the form of protest was appropriate for athletes. Proponents said the athletes had the right to express their opinions nike kobe bryant shoes australia , while opponents said sports should not be politicized.