Consumers holding out for big deals 91裸聊视频� and some much-needed relief from soaring costs on just about everything 91裸聊视频� may be disappointed as they head into the busiest shopping season of the year.

While retailers are advertising sales of 30%, 50% and 70% off everything from TVs to gadgets, many items will still cost more than they did last year because of inflation and finding a true bargain may prove to be a challenge.

From September through October, shoppers paid roughly 18% more for furniture and appliances than they did a year ago, according to a recent major data analysis by analytics company DataWeave, which tracks prices for hundreds of thousands of items across roughly three dozen retailers including Amazon and Target. For toys, they paid roughly 2% more.

Things looked a bit better for consumers shopping for clothing 91裸聊视频� they paid nearly 5% less compared with last fall, according to DataWeave. Meanwhile, prices held steady for footwear.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 just a weird time for everybody to figure out what is the right price, and what is the real price,91裸聊视频� said Nikki Baird, vice president of strategy of Aptos, a retail technology firm. 91裸聊视频淐onsumers are really bad at discount math, and retailers are fully aware of it and do everything they can to take advantage of it.91裸聊视频�

William Wang, 24, who teaches high school math, says he91裸聊视频檚 more likely to notice price increases on everyday items 91裸聊视频� like his quesadilla that now costs $8 at his local deli 91裸聊视频� than for gifts he91裸聊视频檚 going to spend money on once a year.

91裸聊视频淚 do feel like everything91裸聊视频檚 more expensive,91裸聊视频� said the Brooklyn, New York, resident. 91裸聊视频淏ut I mainly keep track of it with small items, like food.91裸聊视频�

The latest government retail sales report shows retail sales rose last month even when adjusting for inflation. That underscores some resiliency among shoppers heading into the Black Friday weekend, the kickoff to the season.

But cracks are forming.

Third-quarter earnings results from major retailers show shoppers aren91裸聊视频檛 willing to pay full price and waiting for deals. Kohl91裸聊视频檚, Target and Macy91裸聊视频檚 all noted Americans have also slowed their spending in the past few weeks.

It91裸聊视频檚 a dramatic change from when shoppers began their holiday items as early as October for fear they wouldn91裸聊视频檛 get what they needed amid pandemic-infused clogs in the supply chain. They were also flush with cash from government stimulus money. Retailers were struggling to bring in items so they didn91裸聊视频檛 need to discount as much.

Michael Liersch, head of advice and planning at Wells Fargo, said this holiday shopping season, it91裸聊视频檚 more likely that things will 91裸聊视频渁ppear discounted or feel discounted, or it will seem like there are big offers91裸聊视频� but that between inflation and 91裸聊视频渟hrinkflation91裸聊视频� 91裸聊视频� when manufacturers quietly shrink package sizes without lowering the price 91裸聊视频� it91裸聊视频檚 often not the case.

That trend played out in a recent spot check by DataWeave of different items. For example, a Cuisinart two-speed blender, listed at $59.99 but discounted at 25%, was available for $44.99 at grocery chain Fred Meyer. But it was still more expensive than last year91裸聊视频檚 blender, available for $39.99, after a 20% discount off a lower list price of $49.99.

At Kohl91裸聊视频檚, shoppers paid more for Nunn Bush Baker Street men91裸聊视频檚 dressy shoes this past fall than last year when discounts were actually bigger, and the list price was lower. The shoes were available for $79.99 after a nearly 16% price cut from the $95 suggested price; last year, the shoes were available for $59.99 after a 29% discount on a lower list price of $85.

Kevin Brasler, executive editor of Consumers91裸聊视频� Checkbook, a nonprofit consumer organization, noted its researchers spent 33 weeks starting Feb. 9 tracking sale prices at 25 major retailers. They found most stores91裸聊视频� sale prices 91裸聊视频� even those that promote big savings 91裸聊视频� are bogus discounts, with retailers offering the same 91裸聊视频渟ale price91裸聊视频� more than half the time. In fact, at many retailers, the 91裸聊视频渞egular price91裸聊视频� or 91裸聊视频渓ist91裸聊视频� price listed is seldom, if ever, what shoppers pay, Brasler said.

Still, inflation-battered shoppers like Yoki Hanley are willing to take their chances and hold out for a bargain. So far, she doesn91裸聊视频檛 feel like she91裸聊视频檚 getting good deals for her eight grandchildren and plans to delay her buying until the last week before Christmas.

91裸聊视频淓verything went up so my little nest egg disappeared a whole lot quicker than I expected,91裸聊视频� said the St. Croix resident. 91裸聊视频淚 will wait until the last minute. They91裸聊视频檒l get it, but it91裸聊视频檚 coming late.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频擜nne D91裸聊视频檌nnocenzio And Cora Lewis, The Associated Press