One strategy that’s become clear is that retailers are pushing for an earlier start to the holiday shopping season, said James McCafferty, co-director at the Center for Economic and Business Research at Western Washington University. He’s noticed that U.S. warehouse space is at a premium right now because many companies ordered early for fear delivery would be delayed.

“The inventory is here and needs to be sold,” McCafferty said in an email, adding that so far this is one of the areas that has seen growth during this COVID-19 pandemic.