(Adds shares in paragraph 2) Oct 21 (Reuters) – Mattel missed third-quarter sales and profit estimates on Tuesday, hurt by sluggish retail demand for its toys in North America amid rising economic uncertainty. Shares of the company fell about 18% after the bell. Consumers struggling with the rising cost-of-living crisis have been pulling back on high-priced and non-essential items, which has led to retailers cautiously holding off on inventory commitments until closer to the time and point of sale. This, in turn, has been raising challenges for Mattel's business in the United States. "We did see a shift of retail ordering patterns in the U.S. where retailers moved from domestic import to direct shipping in order to have more time to make the decision closer to the holiday season," CEO Ynon

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