It appears that recently disappointing retail sales have stuck merchants with unwanted goods that may be liquidated if consumers continue to retrench.

FORBES: The Chances Of A Double Dip

The notion of being able to sell on your unwanted digital goods is a concept that has caught the eyes of, among others, Amazon and Apple.

BBC: Redigi screengrab

The next part of its survey comes in the New Year, when consultants will try to return unwanted or damaged goods.

CNN: ASIANOW - TIME Asia | Asia Buzz: Bah, Humbug

This is a bad analogy because competitive markets require that there be winners and losers and, in this example, it is a good outcome for an inferior car manufacturer's goods to remain on the forecourts, unsold and unwanted.

ECONOMIST: Letters | The