Not so long ago, downtown shops could at least claim to offer an urban alternative to the strip malls and boxy stores dotted about the suburbs.

在市郊，各种带状的和块状的商业中心星罗棋布，不久前，市中心的商店还可以勉强分得一杯羹。

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As Chinese imports drop noticeably, wholesalers have had to seek alternative sources of supply, prompting immediate price increases at repair shops and retailers.

由于从中国的轮胎进口显著放缓，批发商不得不寻求其他货源，汽修店和轮胎零售店里的轮胎价格随之上涨。

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Whereas traditional pawn shops can charge upwards of 20% per month for a loan, online pawn shops charge as little as 2%, which is lower than other forms of alternative financing such as receivables factoring.

FORBES: Could Online Pawns Fund Your Business?