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(AP) -- Crowds of shoppers have flocked to malls across the country, rummaging through thinly stocked shelves hunting for deals, next year's Christmas gifts and gifts for themselves.

Retailers made a push to woo gift-card-toting shoppers by slashing prices and advertising doorbuster deals Saturday often reserved for the day after Thanksgiving.

Diana Mayfield, a 56-year-old business trainer from Jacksonville, Ill., managed to get two Christmas ornaments for $6, marked down from $28. She was out before dawn Saturday while visiting family in Maryland, scouring for next year's Christmas gifts.

Knowing holiday shoppers would likely spend less, merchants carefully managed inventory for the season. That meant by Saturday, some store shelves were practically empty.

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