Customers flocking to corner-shops typically buy goods they need for a limited period and for a limited value.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Jack Ma uses a website, Alibaba, to sell goods from China's thousands of corner shops to other businesses.

ECONOMIST: India and China are creating millions of entrepreneurs

Smaller corner shops known as Mercalitos which devote some shelf-space to subsidised goods are also closing down.

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Resurgent US shoppers have provided signs of hope for the beleaguered Japanese economy, by buying more goods from Japan and raising hopes that the export trade may have turned the corner.

BBC: US buying boosts Japanese trade