Breaking news, industry updates, and the latest developments shaping global retail, e-commerce, and commerce technology.
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.
Levi Strauss beat second-quarter estimates, raised its full-year outlook and lifted its dividend, yet shares fell nearly 6% on July 10. Soft third-quarter guidance and tariff uncertainty drove the sell-off.
Fast Retailing raised its full-year profit forecast to a record and posted a 45.7% jump in quarterly operating profit. Yet shares in the Uniqlo owner fell as much as 5.1% in Tokyo after its CFO warned a weak yen could drag on Japan sales.
Trent shares fell about 12% on Tuesday, the biggest Sensex loser, after its Q1 business update showed revenue growth slowing to 19%, short of Street estimates. Weakness in sales per square foot at the Zudio value chain raised fears of store cannibalization and a normalizing growth engine.
Domino’s Pizza China operator DPC Dash reached 1,550 stores across 75 cities by June 30, adding 235 net new outlets in the first half of 2026. The pace signals confidence even as same-store sales stayed negative and Chinese consumers kept spending cautiously.
China’s SAMR and commerce ministry opened a 20-provision draft amendment to the 2019 E-commerce Law for public comment, widening platform-economy oversight. The revision tightens platform liability and pledges to defend Chinese firms operating abroad.
Billions of undervalued DDP parcels enter the EU almost unchecked, dodging duty and VAT while local retailers pay in full. How the loophole works, and why the EU keeps waving it through.
Three fresh regulatory tells (an FTC injunction, Virginia’s live auto-renewal law, and NYC’s first municipal rule) point to a US subscription-commerce compliance reckoning. The signals suggest “cancel as easily as you enrolled” becomes the de facto national standard by year-end 2026.
The European Court of Justice dismissed Google’s final appeal, confirming a 4.1 billion euro fine for abusing Android to entrench Search and Chrome. The ruling ends an eight-year antitrust battle with binding consequences for app-marketplace rules.
General Mills reported a $2.1 billion fourth-quarter operating loss on non-cash goodwill and Brazil charges, even as adjusted operating profit rose 13 percent in constant currency. The July 1 results point to flat volumes, a cost-savings drive, and fresh pressure on grocery shelves from private label.