News Analysis After a prolonged and record-breaking holiday shopping season, retailers are now preparing to face the fly in the ointment of the recent spending spree: a deluge of returns, which are predicted to put additional strain on supply chains and retail operations. The particular concern this year arises from the supply chain issues that have afflicted the economy in the wake of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus pandemic. In anticipation of concerns about supply chains and distribution during the holiday season, retailers used new strategies to prolong the Christmas shopping season, allowing for additional time to ensure that products were delivered in time. These efforts were largely successful: October saw record sales as shoppers began to prepare early for the holidays, while sales growth slowed down in November and December relative to previous years. By spreading out the holiday shopping season thusly, retailers were largely able to avoid …