December 23 – Visa: Holiday Spending Rose 4.2%; In-Store Sales Capture 73% of Spend
General merchandise stores saw a 3.7% lift as consumers sought out convenience, Visa noted. From: Chain Store Age
December 23 – Deal to Sell 120 J.C. Penney Stores for $950M Falls Through
Shareholders include Simon Property Group, Brookfield Corporation, Authentic Brands Group and Chinese fast-fashion site Shein. From: Retail Dive
December 22 – Regional Grocers Aim to Stand Out Amid M&A Moves
Regional grocers have been gaining scale without disrupting the local relationships they have with shoppers. From: Grocery Dive
December 22 – Target Beats Drum on Value Beyond Pricing
The retailer is working to “prioritize value perception” with a balance of merchandising newness and affordability, according to Jefferies analysts. From: Retail Dive
December 22 – Southeastern Grocers Raises $368K for Holiday Hunger Relief
Contributions were made through a series of customer- and associate-supported initiatives at Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie stores. From: Progressive Grocer
December 22 – How Home Depot Sped Up Its Supply Chain — and What Comes Next
The retailer has added over nearly 200 facilities in the past eight years to fill various roles in its supply chain, according to Jordan Broggi, executive VP of customer experience. From: Retail Dive
December 19 – Gift Cards: The Currency of Choice for a New Generation
81% of consumers purchased a Gift Card over the past year, a six-point increase from the year before. From: HomePage News
December 19 – ISM: 2026 Economic Prospects Appear Positive in Services, Manufacturing Sectors
An Institute for Supply Management survey suggested the outlook for 2026 is positive with projected gains in services, including retail, and manufacturing. From: HomePage News
December 18 – Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation Awards More than $985K in Grants
The Foundation focuses on addressing the root causes of hunger and helps feeding organizations expand their capacity to provide fresh produce and other staples. From: Drug Store News
December 18 – ICSC: Deal-Centric Consumers Envision More Super Saturday Shopping
In the current macroeconomic environment, 91% of shoppers said higher prices will impact purchasing, in line with 2024. From: HomePage News
December 18 – To See Where Macy’s is Going, Head to Chicago
Visual upgrades “go well beyond new flooring and lighting” and brands like Ralph Lauren have participated in elevating their presentation, according to Evercore ISI analyst Michael Binetti. From: Retail Dive
December 18 – Digital Security Gains Urgency as Cybercrime Proliferates
The Cognyte study made the point that, with Gen Z, Gen Alpha and Gen Beta, tech-fueled crime is changing shape and might become even more pervasive. From: HomePage News
December 18 – Why Specialty Grocers are Thriving Post-Pandemic
Specialty grocers have also been able to skirt the pressures of price inflation by maintaining their role as a top-up grocery shopping destination. From: Grocery Dive
December 17 – Bain: GenAI Adoption Accelerates as Consumer Trust Builds By Generation, 79% of Millennials reported using GenAI compared to 76% of GenZers, 66% of GenXers, 37% of Baby Boomers and 14% of Silent Generation members. From: HomePage News
December 17 – November Retail Sales Remained Steady
Retail consumer spending remained steady in November as elevated prices continue to erode discretionary spending and prompt shoppers to focus on necessities, such as food, according to Circana. From: Drug Store News
December 17 – Von Maur Slates 2027 New Jersey Debut for 40th Department Store
The three-level 164,000-square-foot Freehold Von Maur will replace a Nordstrom store. From: HomePage News
December 17 – Aldi Goes on Another Store Opening Tear
The stores are located across 10 states — Alabama, Florida, Arkansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York and Ohio — with the majority located in Florida. From: Grocery Dive
December 16 – Study: Economic Uncertainty Weighing on Consumer Spending
67% of consumers reported that the perceived direction of the economy has affected their spending, with consumers from households earning $50,000 to $ 100,000 again the most concerned, at 71%. From: HomePage News
December 16 – Brand House Collective Misses Q3 Estimates While Awaiting Acquisition by Bed Bath & Beyond
Amy Sullivan, Brand House Collective CEO, said, “Our inventory optimization efforts are strategically supporting our store conversion program, creating space for expanded Bed Bath & Beyond assortments as we transform our retail footprint”. From: HomePage News
December 15 – Numerator: Christmas Spending Expectations Hold Steady for Most Shoppers
45% intend to do half of their seasonal shopping online and half in-store; 33% plan to do most or all online, and 22% plan to do most or all in-store. From: HomePage News
December 16 – Store Comps Grow at Kirkland’s Operator Ahead of Bed Bath & Beyond Merger
The Brand House Collective, which saw net sales fall 9.6% in Q3, converted three locations to Bed Bath & Beyond stores in the quarter. From: Retail Dive
December 15 – RH Works Through Bumpy Q3, Opens Metro Detroit Gallery
The 60,000-square-foot gallery in Birmingham operates on four levels and includes an interior design studio and a rooftop restaurant. From: HomePage News
December 15 – NRF: Super Saturday Set to Shatter Shopper Record
A record-breaking 158.9 million consumers plan to shop on the last Saturday before Christmas 2025.
From: HomePage News
December 15 – iRobot Going Private Via Pre-Packaged Chapter 11 Filing
As part of a Restructuring Support Agreement (RSA), iRobot will continue to operate as a privately held organization with an improved financial foundation that will position it for long-term growth and innovation, the company said. From: HomePage News
December 12 – Costco Keeps Rolling Through Q1 With Help from Nonfoods Growth
Costco Wholesale Corp. produced another round of solid results in its first quarter, posting gains across major merchandise segments, including Nonfoods. From: HomePage News
December 11 – Nordstrom Keeps Adding Rack Locations Across the U.S.
As the company expands its off-price strategy, Nordstrom intends to open two Rack locations in spring 2026. From: HomePage News
December 11 – Many Consumers Are Calling on AI To Guide Their Shopping Journeys
38% trust AI for general research, 21% use it to find deals and promotions and 16% use it in side-by-side product comparisons. From: HomePage News
December 11 – Dollar General Promotes Three in Business Intelligence, Store Ops
Dollar General announced three appointments in its business intelligence and store operations departments. From: HomePage News
December 11 – Placer.ai: Holiday Shoppers Demonstrate Preference for Low Price Tags
All key off-pricers saw more Black Friday shoppers through the doors on Black Friday, with Ross Dress for Less up 13.9%, Home Goods up 6.2%, T.J. Maxx up 5.2%, Marshalls up 5.1%, Nordstrom Rack up 3.3% and Burlington up 1.5% year over year. From: HomePage News
December 10 – Cost-Pressured Consumers Shifting Holiday Shopping Strategies
Retailers are seeing significant shifts in consumer behavior, including the mainstreaming of second-hand gifting across generations, AI service provider Qlik said. From: HomePage News
December 10 – L.L. Bean Keeps Opening More Stores
All seven L.L. Bean stores that opened this year, including the first in Florida, “exceeded expectations and existing comp stores are producing strong year-over-year growth,” the company said. From: Retail Dive
December 10 – Boomers Remain Vital Consumers as Life Circumstances Change
The average Boomer household spends $21,048 annually on consumer-packaged goods, general merchandise and quick-service restaurants, and it makes 733 shopping trips a year. From: HomePage News
December 9 – NYC SoHo Store Showcases Target’s Style & Design Vision
The SoHo stores took inspiration from new CEO Michael Fiddelke’s vision to put style and design at the company’s forefront, Target emphasized. From: Progressive Grocery
December 9 – ISM: Retail Helped Lift Service Sector Activity in November
Retail strength helped keep the service Purchasing Managers Index in growth territory for November even as manufacturing slipped. From: HomePage News
December 9 – Online Grocery Shopping Surged in November to $12B
While all age groups reported gains in order frequency, the core user group (30- to 44-year-old households) posted the strongest increase, surging more than 20% versus last year. From: Progressive Grocer
December 9 Bed Bath & Beyond Names Gomez Chief Merchant as Lemonis Retires from Camping World
Nora Gomez will head up merchandising for Bed Bath & Beyond and its family of brands, including buybuy Baby, Overstock and Kirkland’s Home, driving unified product strategy and accountability across the entire portfolio, the company noted. From: HomePage News
December 9 – Online Grocery Sales See ‘Dramatic Acceleration’ in November: Report
Monthly online grocery sales rose 29% YOY in November to $12.3 billion, with increased order frequency as one of the main drivers behind the strong performance, Brick Meets Click and Mercatus reported. From: Grocery Dive
December 9 – Port Tracker: Import Volumes to Remain Soft Well Into 2026
Year-over-year declines in import cargo volume seen at major container ports across the United States in recent months should continue in 2026 under the effects of tariffs and ongoing uncertainty about U.S. trade policy. From: HomePage News
December 8 – Consumers Worried Tariffs Will Make 2025 Holidays Most Expensive Ever
72% of consumers said the economy was worsening, and 55% said they felt guilty spending on gifts when others can’t afford essentials. From: HomePage News
December 8 – Retail Job Cuts up Nearly 140% From Last Year
While announced job cuts in the retail industry grew from October, across all industries job cuts were down more than 50% from last month. From: Retail Dive
December 8 – December 8 BJ’s Opening Three New Stores in Time for Holiday Shopping
The timing gives BJ’s the chance to pitch consumers on deals and memberships while the holiday shopping season still is in full swing. From: HomePage News
December 8 – Off-Price Retailers Neutralize Tariff Impact
Through judicious inventory management and hyper-vigilant pricing, TJX Cos., Ross and Burlington in recent weeks successfully protected margins in Q3, and all three expect that to continue in Q4. From: Retail Dive
December 8 – Costco Sales Stay Positive Year Over Year in November
Year over year, Costco comparable sales, excluding gas price and foreign exchange impact, were up 6.4%, with comps for operations in the United States up 5.8%. From: HomePage News
December 5 – Bed Bath & Beyond Veteran Cary Returns as Store Chief Under New Organization
Bed Bath & Beyond has appointed Glen Cary chief of stores for the company’s namesake and other banners. From: HomePage News
December 5 – Circana: Year-Over-Year Retail Sales Dropped for Black Friday Week
Despite early reports of record traffic and strong sales, this year’s Black Friday week posted a steeper decline than both season-to-date and year-to-date trends. From: HomePage News
December 5 – Ulta Beats Street in Q3 But Styling Tools Pressured by Tariffs
Ulta President and CEO Kecia Steelman, speaking in a conference call, said personal styling tool sales declined in the third quarter under pressure from tariff-related price increases. From: HomePage News
December 5 – ICSC: Younger Shoppers Led the Charge in Thanksgiving Weekend Shopping
In the Thanksgiving promotional period, Black Friday was again the most popular day to shop. From: HomePage News
December 4 – Kroger Delivers Mixed Q3, Citing Shopper Restraint During U.S. Government Shutdown
The company’s CEO, Ron Sargent, said on a conference call that many Kroger customers shopped cautiously in October and November due to concerns about the U.S. government shutdown and the pause in SNAP benefits. From: HomePage News
December 4 – Pantone Selects Airy White ‘Cloud Dancer’ As Its 2026 Color of the Year
The Color of the Year is one that Pantone sees growing in importance across all areas of design and can communicate the color message that best showcases what’s happening in culture. From: HomePage News
December 4 – Lidl US Launches 1st Holiday Meal Deal for Under $4 Per Person
The promotion, which runs from Dec. 10 through Dec. 24 at participating stores, offers enough food to serve 12 people for under $4 per person. From: Progressive Grocer
December 4 – Dollar General Gets Lift from Home Products in Q3
Sales of non-consumable, including the home category, helped push Dollar General to a Wall Street beat in a strong third quarter. From: HomePage News
December 3 – Dollar Tree Posts Solid Q3 Behind Record Halloween Sales
Operating income increased 3.8% to $343.3 million, while adjusted operating income increased 4.1% to $345.3 million from the prior-year quarter. From: HomePage News
December 3 – Costco Sues Trump Administration for Tariff Refund
The company also seeks a full refund of the tariffs it has already paid and those it will continue to pay and said it will file for a preliminary injunction to suspend impending tariff payments. From: Grocery Dive
December 3 – Macy’s Beats Q3 Expectations While Prepping for ‘Discerning’ Holiday Shoppers
Bloomingdale’s comps advanced 8.8% on an owned basis and 9% on an owned-plus-licensed-plus-marketplace basis, while Bluemercury comps increased 1.1%. From: HomePage News
December 3 – Visa: AI Driving Generational Shift in Shopping, Gifting
As shoppers integrate AI into their routines, 61% still prefer human interaction for customer service, and 60% want to better understand how AI-powered shopping tools use their personal data. From: HomePage News
December 2 – NRF: Thanksgiving Weekend Shopping Totals Better Than Expected
Top shopping destinations for Thanksgiving weekend were supermarkets for 47% of consumers and online for 45%. From: HomePage News
December 2 – Adobe: AI-Driven Traffic Assisted Big Online Spending Lift in November
The average discount offered on the date was 18.6% on furniture and 20.2% on appliances versus 16.8%. From: HomePage News
December 2 – Sensormatic: Black Friday Traffic Down From 2024 Despite Weeklong Surge
The company noted that Because Christmas falls on a Thursday retailers could enjoy a more sustained high-traffic period in the week preceding December 25. From: HomePage News
December 1 – Costco Sues Trump Administration To Recover Tariff Payments
Costco maintained that it is taking necessary legal action because the tariffs paid could be subject to liquidation. From: HomePage News
December 1 – More Transactions, Smaller Purchases Drive Black Friday Growth
The average transaction value fell 17% to $115.46, the lowest level since 2021. From: HomePage News
