If you have yet to deck your halls for the holidays, time is running out.

Stores, which this year have been pressed by economic forces to slash inventory levels, simply have less stuff to sell. That means that if you're in the market for Christmas lights, garland or tree stands, supplies are definitely dwindling.

At area hardware and home improvement stores, most have reached the point where all of the remaining inventory is on the shelf, and many items are already sold out.

"We've been hearing for a couple of weeks that we're the only ones who have stock and now our stock is running low," said Craig Ward, who owns Ace Hardware stores in Cary, Chapel Hill and Raleigh.

Last year, companies were stuck with large amounts of lights, wreaths and other products after a holiday season in which shoppers simply did not buy. This year, retailers could not afford the same mistake.

Read the complete story at newsobserver.com