Shoppers can expect an even greater number of markdowns in the coming weeks as stores try to clear their shelves for spring merchandise.

Cold weather discourages purchases of new spring merchandise, but no one wants to buy winter season leftovers, either.

Without a new bank agreement, vendors and factoring companies were unwilling to ship spring merchandise.

Now retailers are bringing in spring merchandise earlier and having the month stand on its own instead of just dumping goods.

The approval will allow the stores to use about $100 million right now, particularly for ordering spring merchandise.

"There is going to be a lot of leftover spring merchandise, which I think will depress earnings in the second quarter."

But weeks into the ordering season for spring merchandise, American Eagle is taking a pass.

That could leave Macy's stores short of the new spring merchandise they need to keep shoppers from going to the competition.

The sales of spring merchandise won't be tallied for months.

Unless Bloomingdale's is sold very soon, a lot of manufacturers could withhold their spring merchandise.