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Holiday shoppers are finding that discounts among some of the items on their shopping lists are a little easier to find this year due to higher inventories at retailers, along with slowing demand due to inflation and certain recessionary economic conditions. At the same time, they may also notice that some retailers are slower to reduce prices to generate sales.

And online shoppers need to mind guaranteed delivery dates from each retailer. Even Amazon doesn’t deliver on Dec. 25.

Sue Laridis recently tried to buy cough medicine for her grandson. “I just couldn’t find it,” she said. “Nobody has anything. It’s like even at the grocery stores. It’s getting ridiculous.”

In early November, weeks before the peak holiday shopping season was about to kick off, Apple issued an unusual warning: customers would have to wait longer for the new iPhone 14 Pro models. That’s because one of its key assembly facilities in the Chinese city of Zhengzhou was “operating at significantly reduced capacity” due to Covid curbs.

Whether you're shopping for gifts or groceries, this is one of the most expensive holiday seasons ever. But there are still ways to save. NBC’s Vicky Nguyen reports for TODAY on how to save ahead of the shopping rush.