Consumers holding out for big deals 害羞草研究所� and some much-needed relief from soaring costs on just about everything 害羞草研究所� 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 害羞草研究所� they paid nearly 5% less compared with last fall, according to DataWeave. Meanwhile, prices held steady for footwear.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 just a weird time for everybody to figure out what is the right price, and what is the real price,害羞草研究所� said Nikki Baird, vice president of strategy of Aptos, a retail technology firm. 害羞草研究所淐onsumers are really bad at discount math, and retailers are fully aware of it and do everything they can to take advantage of it.害羞草研究所�

William Wang, 24, who teaches high school math, says he害羞草研究所檚 more likely to notice price increases on everyday items 害羞草研究所� like his quesadilla that now costs $8 at his local deli 害羞草研究所� than for gifts he害羞草研究所檚 going to spend money on once a year.

害羞草研究所淚 do feel like everything害羞草研究所檚 more expensive,害羞草研究所� said the Brooklyn, New York, resident. 害羞草研究所淏ut I mainly keep track of it with small items, like food.害羞草研究所�

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 aren害羞草研究所檛 willing to pay full price and waiting for deals. Kohl害羞草研究所檚, Target and Macy害羞草研究所檚 all noted Americans have also slowed their spending in the past few weeks.

It害羞草研究所檚 a dramatic change from when shoppers began their holiday items as early as October for fear they wouldn害羞草研究所檛 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 didn害羞草研究所檛 need to discount as much.

Michael Liersch, head of advice and planning at Wells Fargo, said this holiday shopping season, it害羞草研究所檚 more likely that things will 害羞草研究所渁ppear discounted or feel discounted, or it will seem like there are big offers害羞草研究所� but that between inflation and 害羞草研究所渟hrinkflation害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所� when manufacturers quietly shrink package sizes without lowering the price 害羞草研究所� it害羞草研究所檚 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 year害羞草研究所檚 blender, available for $39.99, after a 20% discount off a lower list price of $49.99.

At Kohl害羞草研究所檚, shoppers paid more for Nunn Bush Baker Street men害羞草研究所檚 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 Consumers害羞草研究所� Checkbook, a nonprofit consumer organization, noted its researchers spent 33 weeks starting Feb. 9 tracking sale prices at 25 major retailers. They found most stores害羞草研究所� sale prices 害羞草研究所� even those that promote big savings 害羞草研究所� are bogus discounts, with retailers offering the same 害羞草研究所渟ale price害羞草研究所� more than half the time. In fact, at many retailers, the 害羞草研究所渞egular price害羞草研究所� or 害羞草研究所渓ist害羞草研究所� 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 doesn害羞草研究所檛 feel like she害羞草研究所檚 getting good deals for her eight grandchildren and plans to delay her buying until the last week before Christmas.

害羞草研究所淓verything went up so my little nest egg disappeared a whole lot quicker than I expected,害羞草研究所� said the St. Croix resident. 害羞草研究所淚 will wait until the last minute. They害羞草研究所檒l get it, but it害羞草研究所檚 coming late.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所擜nne D害羞草研究所檌nnocenzio And Cora Lewis, The Associated Press