Retailers in the US Push Big Holiday Discounts to Ease Inventory Avalanche

If last year’s holiday shopping season was characterised by empty store shelves and a race to meet demand in a healthy US economy, very different concerns have emerged just 12 months later: overabundance and sinking sales.

American retailers are sitting on so much inventory that brands — particularly for apparel and housewares — have resorted to listing their goods on resale websites, hosting sample sales, giving stuff to employees,…