Soaring inflation kept consumers from spending as much as they would have liked for much of the year. And in the runup to Christmas 2023, shoppers were forced to contend with cyclone bombs and other forms of poor weather in much of the US. In fact, 183 million Americans fell under wind chill advisories the week leading up to Christmas. As a result, retailers posted mid-single digit sales gains for Holiday 2023. Experts warn they’re also facing excess inventories and slim margins. Still, some ...