21.   That caused retailers to cut back on orders to their suppliers while they tried to clear their shelves.

22.   That helped Federated clear its shelves of merchandise left from an unusually cool spring and early summer without needing to resort to profit-eroding markdowns.

23.   The improved sales are important because many retailers need to clear their shelves to make way for fall and back-to-school merchandise.

24.   The poor showing means Talbots earnings will be hurt by steep markdowns on its clothes, shoes and accessories as it clears the shelves for spring apparel.

25.   Those closings are sure to create headaches for other chains, because Edison is likely to slash prices to clear its shelves.

26.   U.S. retailers usually give discounts in January to clear their shelves for spring goods.

27.   Years ago, financially strapped Christmas shoppers used to wait until late on the day before the holiday when retailers tried to clear their shelves with large discounts.

28.   As cars disgorged armed insurgents, two women in a store cleared shelves, preparing to close down.

29.   For instance, some supermarkets in the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain have cleared their shelves of U.S. products.

30.   In Bahrain, one of the largest supermarket chains, Al Muntazah Market, has begun clearing its shelves of U.S. products.