Average Rome household will spend €300 in sales

Rome's post-Christmas sales season is in full swing. This year the sales began in the Lazio region on 4 January and continue over the subsequent six weeks. 

Confcommercio, the confederation for businesses in the retail and service sectors, estimates that each household will spend about €300 in this year's January sales, a decrease of around five per cent on last year. 

Shoppers should be aware that the prices on items for sale must be indicated clearly, with the original as well as the sales’ price. Discounts are only allowed on stock already in the shop before the sales, not on items bought in at a discount. 

On Rome's Via del Corso on 4 January dozens of semi-naked shoppers queued up outside a noted Spanish retail store which promised that the first 100 shoppers could dress themselves free of charge once the shop opened.