Fearful of shortages, retailers including Gap Inc. and Nike Inc. ordered extra and did so earlier than usual, but a combination of poor forecasting and inflation-stung shoppers created massive gluts.

Higher interest rates and tightened underwriting standards have created an opportunity for short-term and gap lending solutions.

For Equity Residential’s $2.5 billion backup line of credit known as a revolver, lenders have historically treated the process like a formality or an administrative task, Chief Financial Officer Robert Garechana said in an interview. This time...

Among the 10 biggest bond referendums, which total about $17 billion, many would fund upgrades to schools like safety improvements, expansions or modernizations. San Diego voters will weigh a $3.2 billion bond for the school district, the second...