Retail news covering stores, consumer spending, e-commerce, retail earnings, and consumer goods industry developments.
China's consumer spending likely contracted for the first time since the pandemic, with retail sales estimated down 0.2% in May from a year earlier. The economy is cooling after a surprise acceleration, with weak job market and faster inflation hobbling consumption.
Kroger is rolling out electronic shelf labels to hundreds more stores in its Cincinnati-Dayton division, including Northern Kentucky. The expansion follows Walmart's adoption of dynamic pricing in December 2025, which drew shopper backlash. Senator Elizabeth Warren has expressed concern that such tags could enable surge pricing for basic goods.
Appliance and home furnishing retailers in Canada are collapsing amid a soft housing market, leaving customers with lost deposits and unpaid orders. Coast Wholesale Appliances Inc. entered CCAA protection in April 2026 with over $15 million in customer deposits tied up. Customer Cathy Proctor lost a 50% deposit on $30,000 worth of custom kitchen appliances.
This article presents Consumer Reports' testing and review of the best impact drivers for 2026, offering a consumer-focused evaluation of performance and value. It argues that certain models outperform others based on rigorous testing criteria, providing guidance for purchasing decisions.
Mike Ashley's Frasers Group made a A$316m takeover offer for Australian footwear retailer Accent Group, offering 65 cents per share. The bid follows a recent near-€2bn offer for Hugo Boss. Frasers already owns a 22.9% stake in Accent, which operates over 800 stores in Australia and New Zealand.
Dollarama CEO Neil Rossy announced plans to renovate 400 Reject Shop stores over four years and rebadge them under the Dollarama banner. 60-80 stores will be renovated by end of 2026, with 28 already operating with Dollarama layout and 13 fully renovated last quarter.
This commentary argues that Costco is improving its shopping experience by addressing customer pain points, such as store layout and checkout efficiency, while maintaining its low-price model. The author contends that these changes signal a strategic shift for the warehouse retailer.
Kroger confirmed that nearly one in four of its stores nationwide now use electronic shelf labels, enabling centralized price changes. U.S. Senators and New York's attorney general warned the technology could enable predatory surge pricing on groceries, as grocery prices have climbed roughly 31% since March 2020.
This commentary argues that Bath & Body Works is pursuing a multi-year transformation from a specialty retailer to a global brand, despite recent sales declines. It contends the company's challenges stem from high market share and category saturation, not weak brand performance, and suggests product innovation and customer engagement are key to future growth.
Discount grocer Aldi is opening its first store in Midtown Manhattan on Friday, June 19, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 8:30 a.m. EST. The first 200 customers will receive gift bags. The move expands Aldi into a dense urban market where warehouse rivals like Costco cannot easily operate.