US retailers roll out sales as snow threatens East

ATLANTA (AP) — An East Coast snowstorm put a damper on after-Christmas shopping on Sunday. But shoppers across the rest of the U.S. scoured clearance racks and spent gift cards during the afterglow of the best holiday season for retailers since 2007.

Washington, D.C., was expecting 5 to 8 inches (12.5 to 20 centimeters) of snow Sunday. Blizzard warnings were issued in New York and parts of New England. Predictions called for 11 to 16 inches (28 to 41 centimeters) of snow in New York City.

"The forecast will tend to keep them at home, it's not the best day for shopping," said Scott A. Bernhardt, chief operating officer at weather research firm Planalytics.

Because the …