Breaking news, industry updates, and the latest developments shaping global retail, e-commerce, and commerce technology.
The UK Competition and Markets Authority found on September 15, 2026 that Co-op Group’s completed takeover of Southern Co-op may substantially lessen competition around 19 convenience stores and one pair of funeral sites. The parties have until September 22 to offer store divestments or face a Phase 2 investigation.
The FTC is likely to finalize its personalized pricing disclosure statement, three-part test intact, by the end of Q1 2027, with the first enforcement matter landing on food delivery or grocery by mid-2027. Three regulatory tells from the last four weeks point that way.
Shein Global Holdings fell as much as 10% to a post-listing low of HK$36.04 on September 14 after Australian and New Zealand regulators recalled Shein-sold contact lenses and Jefferies initiated at underperform with a HK$26 target. The stock now trades a quarter below its HK$48.56 IPO price two weeks after listing.
PwC’s Consumer Sentiment Index turned positive for the first time since 2021, rising to +1 in August from -13 in April, with 14% of shoppers already buying for Christmas. The firm warns the cheer will fade with autumn food and fuel inflation and the 28 October Budget, and tells retailers to launch Christmas now.
The British Independent Retailers Association is pressing Chancellor John Healey to restore the 75% retail rates discount and double the Employment Allowance at the 28 October Budget. We set out the six asks, the 2026/27 multipliers and what a typical shop’s bill looks like under each scenario.
India has notified the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) (Amendment) Rules, 2026, effective January 1, 2027, adding a 30-day prior price test, sponsored listing labels, dark pattern self-audits and mandatory National Consumer Helpline integration. Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho and the quick-commerce apps have 16 weeks to comply.
Selfridges Group chief executive Andre Maeder and Paul Smith chairman Ewan Venters have called for Sunday trading hours in England and Wales to be extended by two to three hours. The 1994 law has seen off three reform attempts, and independent shops and the union Usdaw are already lined up against a fourth.
From 1 October 2026 the tribunal claims window doubles to six months, and from 30 October every UK shop becomes liable for customer harassment of its staff unless it took all reasonable steps. Here is what independents and chains must do before the deadlines.
The ONS publishes August 2026 retail sales for Great Britain at 7am on Friday 18 September, a day after the Bank of England decision and two days after CPI. BRC-KPMG, Barclays and GfK data already point to food growth, falling non-food sales and cautious big-ticket spending.
The Census Bureau publishes August retail sales on September 16 at 8:30 a.m. ET, hours before the Fed’s rate decision, after a 0.6% July decline. Record gasoline prices and a stronger auto selling rate shape the headline, while sentiment and tariff-refund price cuts cloud the core.