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NATION

NYC issues matchbooks designed to stop smoking

NEW YORK — Before New Yorkers light up, the city health department wants them to have a look at the ravaged lungs, rotting gums and large tumors smoking can cause.

Graphic images of such health problems are printed on a new line of matchbooks issued by the health department. Health Commissioner Thomas Frieden says they’re designed to get New Yorkers to think twice about smoking.

The matchbook images are coupled with the words “Cigarettes Are Eating You Alive.” The matchbooks are available free at 132 cigarette retailers around the city. Assistant Commissioner Sarah Perl says the effort is a counterpoint to the billions of dollars the tobacco industry spends promoting smoking with images of healthy, beautiful people.

Gloomy outlook for holiday retail sales

NEW YORK — Holiday sales are expected to grow at the slowest pace in six years as shoppers worry about jobs, the housing and stock markets and high gas and food prices, according to a forecast from the National Retail Federation being released Tuesday.

The outlook from the retail trade group joins other weak holiday predictions issued so far that will likely lead to aggressive discounting and pre-Thanksgiving sales blitzes as stores try to pry dollars from frugal shoppers.

Associated Press