Deep discounts may buoy flagging holiday sales

CHICAGO — U.S. retailers saw disappointing sales over Thanksgiving, but sales for the holiday could still squeak by expectations before Christmas if enough shoppers respond to steeper and longer-running discounts, according to Reuters. A last minute spike will likely aid home improvement retailers like Lowe’s and Home Depot, along with consumer electronics chains like Best Buy. These two sectors, which offer the most aggressive savings, have fared the best, while clothing retailers have been hit especially hard.