Retailers reported moderate gains in their November sales, as much because of their sales of a year earlier being so bad as that shoppers were getting a head start on buying their holiday gifts.

• Aof their sales of a year earlier being so bad as that  
• Bof their sales a year earlier having been as bad as because  
• Cof their sales a year earlier being as bad as because  
• Dtheir sales a year earlier had been so bad as because  
• Etheir sales of a year earlier were as bad as that