US retail sales rise 0.2% in June: gas drag masks online strength
US retail sales rose just 0.2% in June 2026 as falling gas prices masked a 1.9% jump in online spending. The soft print keeps the Federal Reserve cautious on rate cuts.
Industry News
Daily news from the global retail and commerce industry, market reports, and analysis.
Why retail chief AI officer appointments crest before the 2026 holidays: 3 hiring signals
The retail chief AI officer appointment wave likely crests before the 2026 holiday season, backed by three June-July signals. The first quantified payoff should surface on Q3 2026 earnings calls in late October and November.
UK retail sales slump deepens in June: CBI gauge hits two-year low
The CBI’s June Distributive Trades Survey shows UK retail sales volumes falling at their sharpest annual rate in over a year, with trade judged the weakest for the season since early 2024. Stalled consumer confidence, sticky inflation and a 3.75% Bank Rate leave retailers facing a gloomy start to summer.
Microsoft raises Xbox prices: AI memory crisis hits holiday electronics
Microsoft confirmed a worldwide Xbox price increase from August 1, with consoles up USD 100 to 150 as the AI memory crisis reaches retail. Apple signaled iPhone hikes the same day, sending both stocks lower ahead of the 2026 holiday season.
UK retail sales jump 1.2% in May: online share climbs to 28.8%
UK retail sales volumes rose 1.2% in May 2026, well ahead of the 0.5% economists expected, as a near-record warm month and heavy promotions revived spending. Online retailers led the rebound, lifting the internet’s share of sales to 28.8%.
China retail sales drop 0.6%: first decline since 2022 unsettles brands
China’s May retail sales fell 0.6% year on year, the first decline since December 2022, as a fading auto trade-in subsidy hit big-ticket demand. The miss raises pressure on Beijing and softens the base for global brands and marketplaces.
Why Walmart’s profit growth will lean on ads and membership, not aisles, through FY27: 3 signals
Walmart’s profit growth through fiscal 2027 is likely to be led by its global platforms (advertising, membership, marketplace and Vizio-powered CTV), not store comps. The pattern is visible in the Q1 FY27 print, and the decisive read comes at the holiday quarter reported in early 2027.
TikTok Shop launches in Poland: what it means for retailers, brands and the wider European market
TikTok Shop opens in Poland in 2026 as the eighth European market. What it means for D2C brands, Allegro, Temu, Shein and the wider CEE region in 12 to 24 months.
How retail layoffs in 2026 reshaped store operations
The 2026 layoff wave hit corporate teams and store payroll at once. Here is how staffing ratios, task ownership, and the customer experience on the floor actually changed, with the operational metrics that matter.
Retail bankruptcies in 2026: the warning signs to read early
Most retail bankruptcies telegraph themselves months ahead in covenant filings, vendor payment terms and quiet store-closure leaks. Here is how to read those signals before the Chapter 11 headline lands, and what each one actually means for suppliers, landlords and rivals.