Dive Brief:

• Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has told suppliers that it is "looking at reducing inventory for Q3 and Q4," Bloomberg reports.
• The move comes as merchandise has been backing up due to customers spending less actively than the company anticipated, while staffing in some stores has been sufficient to keep shelves stocked.
• David Tovar, a spokesman for Wal-Mart, said that the cuts are only happening on a "category by category" basis and are not happening "across the board."

Dive Insight:

Wal-Mart has surprised a few people with this news. Earlier this week, the company made headlines with word that it would hire 10% more seasonal employees at the end of the year than it did in 2012, even as other major retailers were reported to be hiring fewer extra staffers for the holidays.