As Christmas Draws Nigh, Crowds Find Discounts but Less Variety

(nytimes) - Some of the year’s steepest discounts are attracting unusually large crowds as retailers, as they did last year, try to lure last-minute holiday shoppers. But while the sales may be enticing, consumers may not find as broad an assortment of merchandise as they found in forays made right before the holidays in previous years.

“There are plenty of deals to be had, but they may not be the product you want,” said John D. Morris, a retail analyst with BMO Capital Markets.

Last year, retailers were awash in goods. The government had experienced a shutdown, weather was awful and consumers seemed less eager to spend money. That forced retailers to slash prices over a broad selection of items just to move inventory, a boon for procrastinators who waited until the final days before Christmas.

This year, retailers vowed not to repeat the same mistakes. Read the rest