Which European country has the worst record for shoplifting? The answer is Britain and she holds the record now for the second year running, according to a survey released on September 19th. Britains not only steal more than their continental counterparts, they are also less competent employees on the shop floor, resulting in Britain having the worst overall rate of retail "shrinkage" - a measure of losses by retailers from theft, mispricing and other wastage. Continental Europeans are actually not much better. Shrinkage is increasing alarmingly in some countries and is generally on the rise. Denmark is a notable example. According to one survey, shrinkage there is 9% up on last year. Shrinkage costs the European economy a surprisingly large amount, in fact, the total annual cost has been estimated at around £30 billion which is equivalent to a shocking £80 per person in the region. That is more than the costs of the much-higher-profile car crime or domestic burglary.
We learn from the passage that during the last two years shoplifting in Britain ____.
has declined appreciably
has had very little effect upon retail shrinkage
costs the general public £30 billion a year
is responsible for less retail shrinkage than mispricing
has exceeded that of other European countries
According to the passage, in several countries in continental Europe, retail shrinkage ____.
is rising at a disturbingly fast rate
is increasing at an annual rate of at least 9%
is soon expected to exceed that of Britain
has remained stable during the past two years
has fallen noticeably as more efficient employees have been taken on
We understand from the passage that in Europe the economy is adversely affected ____.
by the high-rate of retail shrinkage in Britain
more by retail shrinkage than by domestic burglary
to a very insignificant extent by the increase in shoplifting
by a.9% increase in car crimes
by the incompetent employees working in the big stores