Bed Bath & Beyond’s downturn quickens

Going under: Shoppers at a Bed Bath & Beyond store in Manhattan, New York City. The retailer might not be able to continue as a going concern, bringing another US retail chain on the verge of bankruptcy. — Bloomberg

NEW YORK: Bed Bath & Beyond Inc’s faster-than-expected decline toward bankruptcy happened in large part because suppliers began to ask for increasingly stringent payment terms and credit requirements heading into the pivotal holiday shopping season, according to people who have worked with the company.

The cash-strapped retailer sometimes struggled to meet those demands, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing private information.