New home sales in the first ten months totaled 69, 079 units, down 17.8 percent year-on-year, while second-hand home sales dropped 35.8 percent to 101, 188 units, according to the paper.

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The exact reasons are hard to pin down, but resistance to chemicals, more people travelling and an increase in second-hand furniture sales have all been thought to play a part.

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In February 2012, sales prices of second-hand residential buildings decreased in 18 cities, while that of 3 cities remained at the same level.

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Therefore, Re-Digi claims that its service is the digital equivalent of a second-hand record store, and that the sales are allowed under the First Sale Doctrine.

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To protect the company from the danger that cheap new computers will squeeze the margin on refurbished ones, Mr McKie is developing direct sales of more powerful second-hand machines to non-profit bodies, such as charities and schools, and to individuals.

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Second-hand cars now account for 30% of sales on its sites, something that managers never expected.

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With bait sales down, he has taken a second job as deck hand on a boat BP PLC hired for the cleanup.

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