Earlier this week Wal-Mart Stores Inc. announced that it would further cut prices on toys and games in what is now the company's fourth set of price markdowns during the current holiday season.  Wal-Mart also announced that will match the toy prices of any competitor until the end of the year.  Wal-Mart indicated that its current round of cuts brings the number of heavily discounted toys to more than 150 (Wal-Mart announced substantial cuts on 100 top toy items in October -- see 'Wal-Mart's Toy Category Kill Shot Redux').

Wal-Mart recently reported an 11.5% rise in income, but most of that gain came from burgeoning overseas sales.  The retailing giant is slashing prices on electronics and toys in an effort to reinvigorate sales growth here in the States after to back-to-back months of disappointing domestic sales.

Wal-Mart's latest toy price reductions include Bratz dolls, marked down from $12.94 to $8.88, and the Superman Inflato Suit slashed from $22.68 to $15.  While Target will likely have to respond to Wal-Mart's cuts, other retailers may not, at least right away.  Although Amazon did initially lower its price on the new Monopoly Here & Now game to match Wal-Mart ($15), the online giant is now selling the board game for $27.75.