Sears to close 100 stores

North American department store giant Sears is to close over 100 of its stores.

Many are expected to close before the holiday season, putting nearly 5,500 of its staff out of work, according to a Seeking Alpha report.

At least 46 Kmart stores, 30 Sears department stores and 31 Sears Auto Centers are scheduled to close before the end of January, said the report.

The company, which is struggling to reduce costs as its sales dwindle, closed 75 Kmart stores and 21 Sears stores in H1.

Sears operated 1,077 Kmart stores and 793 Sears stores in the US as of August 2 and employed 226,000 as of February 1.