Wednesday Open Line


This is Christmas Eve, a time of gathering families close together and to wind down from the hectic weeks of shopping and mailing. But it also a night of wrapping presents, especially toys — some of which have to be put together. Some parents will discover to their dismay that some treasure has been overlooked, or that batteries are not included with their purchases and head out into the cold, hoping to find an open store with the right solutions. Santa’s elves get plenty of help for U.S. toy makers. There are 524 enterprises across the country producing games, toys and children’s vehicles. These businesses employ almost 7,200 workers. And around $40 billion worth of goods are bought online or by mail order in December, the peak month of the year. You can find more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau online at <www.census.gov>.