Breaking news, industry updates, and the latest developments shaping global retail, e-commerce, and commerce technology.
The government has laid draft regulations that bring the DMCC Act subscription regime into force on 1 January 2027. UK shoppers get online cancellation, written renewal reminders and a new 14-day cooling-off window after free trials end.
The Very Group, owner of Very and Littlewoods, reported record adjusted EBITDA of £317.5m on flat sales of £2.09bn as home and credit offset falling fashion. Shoppers face a free delivery trial over £75, InPost lockers and new Very Pay instalment plans.
Debenhams Group, the owner of boohoo and PrettyLittleThing, made a £28.3m pre-tax profit in the six months to August, its first since 2021. A one-off US warehouse credit did much of the work, but sales growth, cash flow and the marketplace share all improved.
Retail sales volumes in Great Britain fell 0.4% in September 2026, with online and non-store sales down 2.2% as warm weather left winter clothing unsold. GfK consumer confidence fell 11 points to -24, pointing to a muted Black Friday and a tough run-up to Christmas.
Online marketplaces including Amazon, eBay and Temu are expected to be told to collect VAT for business sellers with platform sales above £90,000 in the 28 October Budget. The Treasury could raise up to £1bn, reportedly earmarked for business rates cuts on the high street.
The UK Competition and Markets Authority has designated Aldi, Lidl GB and Lidl NI as Large Grocery Retailers under the 2010 Controlled Land Order. The discounters can no longer use restrictive covenants or long exclusivity deals to block rival supermarkets from opening nearby.
A final CPSC safety rule for lithium-ion batteries in e-bikes, e-scooters and hoverboards is unlikely to reach the Federal Register before June 30, 2027. The hearing record, the cost-benefit math and a thin commission point to mandatory compliance in 2028 at the earliest.
The UK competition regulator proposed on October 20 that Apple must open iPhone NFC to rival wallets through both HCE and secure element routes, at fees substantially lower than today. The consultation closes November 17, and a final rule would apply three months after a decision.
Whatnot likely restricts or retires random-allocation card break formats before 1 July 2027, with a California-only carve-out the probable first step. Three signals from late September and early October 2026 point the same way, and 7 December 2026 is the first hard checkpoint.
Indonesia’s four largest marketplaces began withholding 0.5% income tax from sellers on October 1, a month ahead of the announced schedule. Shopee, Tokopedia, Lazada and Blibli now deduct at source, with an exemption for merchants under Rp 500 million a year who file a declaration.