retailers

Bloomberg Originals has published a feature examining how India's retail day traders collectively lost billions of rupees in the country's fast-growing derivatives and intraday markets. The report looks at the scale of losses among small individual traders, who make up a large share of trading volume on Indian exchanges, and the forces behind their poor returns.

Amazon, once the robotics industry's biggest customer, is increasingly designing and manufacturing its own warehouse robots in-house rather than purchasing them from outside vendors. The shift, highlighted in industry commentary from the Association for Advancing Automation, marks a turning point for the robotics sector, which has long relied on the retailer's enormous purchasing power. Observers are weighing what the move means for traditional robot suppliers competing with their former top client.

Walmart has pledged it will not use customer data to set personalized prices, stating plainly: 'We won't do it.' The commitment addresses growing consumer concern that retailers could charge different customers different prices based on their shopping habits, location or perceived spending power. The statement comes amid wider scrutiny of how major retailers collect and use shopper data.

Walmart's grocery business is increasingly being positioned as the retailer's answer to Amazon Prime, according to a new report. By building loyalty through everyday food shopping, Walmart appears to be turning its largest category into the foundation of a membership-style ecosystem that can compete with Amazon's subscription model for customer retention and spending.

Walmart says neither the company nor its AI shopping assistant uses customers' personal information to set prices. The statement, reported by Fortune, comes amid growing scrutiny of how retailers and AI tools use shopper data for personalized pricing, a practice critics say can disadvantage some consumers.

Home gyms are reshaping the fitness equipment industry, according to a business outlook report. More people are equipping their homes with weights, machines and connected fitness gear instead of relying solely on commercial gyms, shifting demand toward manufacturers and retailers of at-home equipment and changing how the industry markets and sells fitness products.

Institutional investors have regained their role as the main driving force of the US stock market, taking over from the retail traders who dominated much of recent trading. According to CNBC, professional money on Wall Street is once again setting the market's direction, a shift that could change how stocks move and how individual investors position themselves.

United States retail sales increased modestly in August 2026, with core retail sales rising 3.47% year-on-year, according to a report by Fibre2Fashion. The figures point to continued, though measured, growth in American consumer spending. The modest pace suggests demand is holding steady without overheating, a reading economists and industry watchers typically weigh against inflation and interest-rate expectations.

UBS analysts argue that AI shopping agents, which search, compare and purchase products on behalf of consumers, could significantly reshape the U.S. retail landscape. The bank suggests these tools may redirect profit pools away from traditional retailers and intermediaries toward whoever controls the AI interface, forcing merchants to rethink pricing, advertising and customer acquisition strategies as automated shopping adoption grows.

Beauty retail giants Mecca and Sephora are being outpaced by online marketplaces, according to a Yahoo Finance report. The item highlights how e-commerce platforms are gaining ground on established brick-and-mortar and specialty beauty retailers, signaling a shift in where consumers shop for cosmetics and skincare and raising questions about how traditional retailers will respond.

Walmart says it does not use customers' personal information to set prices, pushing back on privacy concerns as it rolls out digital shelf labels across more of its US stores. The retailer says the electronic tags allow faster price updates and clearer labelling, but the expansion has raised questions about whether dynamic, personalised pricing could follow. Walmart maintains prices will not vary based on individual shopper data.

Spanish energy giant Iberdrola has agreed to acquire the electricity retail business of Contigo Energia in Spain. The deal would expand Iberdrola's customer base in the Spanish retail power market, where competition among suppliers remains intense. Financial terms and the exact timeline for completing the transaction were not disclosed in the initial report, and further details are expected as the purchase moves forward.

South Korean retail traders have placed roughly $1.6 billion in bets against the market as the KOSPI index falls. The move puts individual investors on the opposite side of institutional money, a contrarian position that is drawing attention as the benchmark index slides. Commentators are watching whether the crowd-prompted sell-off will prove the retail traders right.

A supermarket has opened an on-site pub as a way to work around restrictions on selling alcohol, and the venture has grown busy enough that it now employs bouncers to manage crowds. The unusual arrangement highlights how retailers are finding creative legal routes to sell liquor where rules limit supermarket alcohol sales. The story has drawn attention for its odd mix of grocery retail and nightlife.

The European Union plans to introduce a €2 handling fee on small parcels imported from outside the bloc. The charge would apply to online orders shipped into the EU, adding a new cost to cross-border e-commerce purchases. The move is expected to affect shoppers buying from non-EU retailers and could draw criticism over added consumer costs.

Norwegian retail sales returned to growth in August, according to a report highlighted by TradingView. The rebound suggests consumer demand in Norway picked up after a weaker stretch, though no figures, drivers or follow-up commentary were included in the coverage. Economists and market watchers typically track the monthly series for signals on household spending and the outlook for Norwegian interest rates.

Apple has raised prices, but discounts on the iPhone 17 are already being offered by some retailers, Forbes reports. Shoppers can reportedly find deals that soften the impact of the increase, making the new phone cheaper than its list price at certain sellers. The combination of higher official pricing and quick discounting is drawing attention from consumers watching upgrade costs.

The head of UK jewellery retailer Beaverbrooks has called on the government to give businesses 'a bit of a break', arguing firms need relief from mounting costs and regulatory pressure. The comments, reported by the Guardian, add to a growing chorus of retail voices pressing ministers for support amid a challenging trading environment.

Abercrombie & Fitch's athleisure brand YPB has announced a partnership with a fitness-studio chain. The deal ties the apparel label to in-studio fitness experiences, a common strategy for activewear brands seeking visibility among workout communities. Details of the studio partner and the terms of the arrangement were not disclosed in the initial report.

US immigration authorities are making more arrests outside big-box stores and supermarkets in Oregon, according to a Rogue Valley Times report. The locations, frequented by large numbers of workers and shoppers, have become focal points for enforcement activity. The report has drawn attention to how immigration operations are extending into everyday public spaces in the state.

Retail investors shifted toward defensive consumer staples this week, with Costco, Dollar General and Walmart leading gains in the sector, according to Stocktwits' weekly retail sentiment roundup. Traders appear to be rotating into safer names, a move often read as a sign of caution about broader market conditions.

Aldi is processing large volumes of fresh produce through its automated distribution warehouse in the UK, part of the discounter's push to use robotics to speed up supply and cut costs. The facility handles the flow of goods to stores as the grocer expands automation across its logistics network.

Apple Music is set to open a concert venue at London's landmark Battersea Power Station, adding live music to the redeveloped site's retail and cultural spaces. The move signals Apple's growing investment in music beyond streaming, and follows similar brand-led venues from other tech and media companies.

Jesper Brøndum, co-founder and Group CTO of Nordic online fashion retailer Boozt, has been announced as a speaker at the EU-Startups Summit 2027. The announcement adds a seasoned e-commerce and technology founder to the summit's lineup, which brings together European startups, investors and entrepreneurs.

Outdoor retailer L.L.Bean has partnered with coffee chain Dunkin' on a new fall merchandise collection. The collaboration brings together two New England brands known for their loyal followings, and covers seasonal products timed to autumn. Retail industry watchers see these unexpected brand pairings as a way to generate buzz and reach each other's customer bases during the busy fall shopping season.

A new Dollar Tree store is set to open in Victorville, California, taking over the space left vacant by a closed Rite Aid. The move fills a long-empty retail location in the High Desert city. Local residents are discussing the arrival of the discount chain and what it means for shopping options in the area.

Utah City has released plans for a new retail district called Broad Street in Vineyard, Utah. The development outlines a commercial area intended to serve the rapidly growing community along Utah County's lakefront. Details shared publicly include the district's layout and retail focus, drawing local attention as Vineyard continues transforming from farmland into one of the state's fastest-developing cities.