Around the Web: Christmas lights in short supply

Retailers around the country are reporting shortages of Christmas lights, according to an article in the Chicago Daily Herald. Spokespeople from Target and Home Depot confirmed limited availability of light sets, and store managers at Ace Hardware stores and Walmart also reported empty shelves.

A number of factors may have come into play, according to retail experts. Warm weather in late November allowed homeowners to get outside and decorate their houses, and recession-battered consumers are trying to get into the holiday spirit without spending large sums of money on gifts. Stores that kept their inventories lean may have been caught off-guard by the higher demand.