Walmart expedites online holiday shopping season

NEW YORK » Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is upping the ante on holiday shopping.

The world’s largest retailer is pulling forward by nearly a month seven big deals on items like TVs and tablets that were originally reserved for the day after Thanksgiving and so-called Cyber Monday. The items went on sale Friday.

The seven deals include a 42-inch JVC LED TV for $299, a savings of 36 percent, and a 10-inch XELIO tablet for $49, a 51 percent discount. The items will be available while supplies last. Last year Walmart offered about 100 holiday deals online right after Halloween, but the offerings were focused on home decor.

"It’s been a tough year for the average American family," Walmart.com President and CEO Joel Anderson said. "It’s our job to be able to help our customers."

He said Walmart decided to accelerate offering the seven deals a month ago. Walmart declined to say whether it would be repeating the discounts during the Thanksgiving weekend.