February 26 – Conference Board: Consumer Confidence Improves in February After January Slide
Consumer intentions to purchase big-ticket items over the next six months rose in February as those who said they would and those who said maybe in the Conference Board Consumer Confidence survey increased, while the number of those saying they wouldn’t declined. From: HomePage News
February 26 – Target Unleashing Roller Rabbit Collection Across Home, Luggage, Apparel
Among the new Roller Rabbit items is the 24-ounce Disco Hearts Wave Tritan Hydration Tumbler priced at $15. Target recently has reemphasized its commitment to design under new CEO Michael Fiddelke. From: HomePage News
February 27 – Inspired Magazine | New Era of Entertaining Creates Retail Opportunities
What do you get when you combine consumers hungry for comfort and connection with a world filled with inflation and cost-consciousness? A wealth of opportunities tied to at-home entertaining. From: HomePage News
February 27 – Economist Outlines Possible Scenarios for New Global Tariff
Economist Keith Prather this week laid out three scenarios related to the new Section 122 global tariff enacted this week in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling reject certain tariffs imposed by President Trump. From: HomePage News
February 27 – Retail Brands Want Their Tariff Money Back
Major discount retailers — Dollar General, Family Dollar Services and Ollie’s Bargain Outlet — have filed lawsuits specifically for refunds, with interest, related to IEEPA since the Supreme Court began hearing oral arguments. From: Retail Dive
February 27 – Rising U.S. E-Commerce Still Far Behind China in Sales, Retail Penetration
According to app developer Mobiloud, China is the top e-commerce market with $3.45 trillion in sales, exceeding those in the United States at $1.38 trillion. From: HomePage News
February 25 – Weak Discretionary Spending, Weather Impact Home Depot Q4
For the fourth quarter, our results were largely in-line with our expectations, reflecting the lack of storm activity in the third quarter and ongoing consumer uncertainty and pressure in housing, said CEO Ted Decker. From: HomePage News
February 25 – Lowe’s Sales Reach $20.6 Billion in Q4 2025
Lowe’s outlook for the full year of 2026 includes expected total sales to reach between $92 – 94.0 billion or an increase of approximately 7% to 9% compared to 2025. From: Hardware Retailing
February 25 – Home Goods Passes $10B in Annual Sales as TJX Lifts Q4 Comps, Earnings
Comparable stores sales in the fourth quarter were up 5%, with Marmaxx, including the T.J. Maxx and Marshalls banners, which were up 5%, and HomeGoods was up 6%. From: HomePage News
February 24– Q4 Solid for Keurig Dr Pepper, U.S. Coffee Results Mixed
In the fourth quarter, Keurig Dr Pepper returned to profits and advanced adjusted net income as sales gained, while U.S. Coffee sales results were mixed. From: HomePage News
February 24 – Dillard’s Holds Steady at the Holidays
The retailer, which now runs 271 locations across 30 states, is expanding, with plans to open a store in March at The Mall at Fairfield Commons in Beavercreek, Ohio and is widely seen as among the healthiest department stores. From: Retail Dive
February 24 – New Duties, Bills & Lawsuits: The State of Tariffs in Flux After Supreme Court
Tariff authority cited by the White House continues with lawsuits seeking refunds, changes in new levy rates and a bill written by Democrats in the United States Senate addressing refunds of duties paid Ruling From: HomePage News
February 24 – US E-Commerce Sales to Reach $1.8 Trillion by 2030
U.S. e-commerce sales will comprise 29% of all retail sales, the remaining 71%, about $4.4 trillion, will come from stores, according to Forrester’s projections. From: Retail Dive
February 24 – Bed Bath & Beyond’s Lemonis on Q4: ‘We Chose Margin Integrity Over Headline Revenue’
In setting the base, Lemonis said, Bed Bath & Beyond deliberately eliminated vendors and SKUs which, with housing market softness, hit revenues as the company determined to support margins. From: HomePage News
February 23 – Refund Scenarios Unclear with IEEPA Tariffs Set to End February 24
Observers noted that the expense of pursuing a refund may not be worth the effort, while some companies, including retailer Costco, already have filed suit to position themselves to recover tariff refunds. From: HomePage News
February 23 – Salvation Army Introduces Gen Z, Alpha to Thrift Shopping Via Virtual Roblox Store
The Salvation Army called Thrift Score is the first digital resale store on Roblox, one that will introduce its brand to a new generation of consumers via avatar shopping within the Roblox universe. From: HomePage News
February 23 – QVC’s Delayed Financial Report Raises Restructuring Speculation
Credit rating firm Pulse Ratings pointed out that the delay in QVC’s earnings release could generate more speculation about a potential restructuring. From: HomePage News
February 23 – The Knot: Gen Z, AI Paying Bigger Role in Resilient Wedding Market
Traditional, cookie-cutter weddings are giving way to celebrations centered on Gen Z notions of authenticity, intention and personal expression. From: HomePage News
February 20 – Retail Industry Says Trump Tariff Reversal is a Win, Even as Uncertainty Remains
In an interview with CNBC on Friday afternoon, David French, executive vice president of government relations for NRF, acknowledged that retailers continue to face other tariffs and may face new ones, based on Trump’s remarks. From: CNBC
February 20 – Sprouts Farmers Market to Open 40-Plus Stores in 2026
Sprouts opened 37 locations in 2025, including its first-ever site in New York. From: Chain Store Age
February 20 – Walgreens Reportedly Laying Off More Than 600 Employees
Bloomberg has reported that the drug store chain is eliminating 469 jobs in Illinois, where the corporate office is located. From: Drug Store News
February 20 – IKEA U.S. Announces Yearly Sales Data and New Store Openings in 2025 Annual Summar
IKEA U.S. recently released its 2025 Annual Summary, highlighting key milestones in the company between Sept. 1, 2024 and Aug. 31, 2025. From: Hardware Retailing
February 20 – UPDATE: Trump Raises New Global Duty to 15% After Supreme Court Rejects IEEPA Tariffs Without Addressing Refunds
Trump, in a press conference on Friday afternoon, responded to the ruling by imposing what he said is an immediate 10% global tariff under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. By statute, Section 122 tariffs can be imposed only for 150 days. From: HomePage News
February 20 – GDP Sees Slow Growth in Q4 2025
According to the latest report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, real GDP grew at an annual rate of 1.4% in the fourth quarter of 2025, down from a 4.4% increase in the third quarter. From: Hardware Retailing
February 19 – Ace Hardware Retailers Reported Q4 Slip in Comp Sales
Full year’s net income was $293.4 million versus $314.1 million in the year earlier. From: HomePage News
February 19 – Wealthier Shoppers are Driving Grocery Spending, Data Shows
Shoppers at the low end of the income spectrum are continuing to struggle under the weight of higher prices while more affluent people amp up their spending. From: Grocery Dive
February 19 – Wayfair’s Shah Details Physical Store Progress After Q4 Sales Growth
CEO Niraj Shah said, “new stores in Atlanta and Denver will be in the 150,000 square foot range, while Columbus will be a smaller format, roughly 70,000 square feet.” From: HomePage News
February 19 – Canadian Tire Ends 2025 With Strong Q4 Revenue Growth
“Customers visited us in greater numbers and we had one of the best holiday seasons in recent memory, a tribute to our retail readiness and the resilience of Canadian consumers in a year of economic uncertainty” said CEO Greg Hicks. From: Hardware Retailing
February 19 – Walmart’s Furner: Choiceful’ Shopper Drove Q4 General Merchandise Gains
Walmart rode strong general merchandise sales to beat Wall Street estimates in its fourth quarter, led by comparable sales gains at the Walmart U.S. and Sam’s Club divisions. From: HomePage News
February 18 – Ikea U.S. Announces New Store Plans After 2025 Sales Slip
In fiscal 2025, Ikea opened 14 new retail locations in the U.S., including new small-format stores. From: HomePage News
February 18 – Kohl’s ‘Deal Bar’ Offers Bargains on Everyday Needs, Seasonal Goods
With merchandising in display cartons prominent, Kohl’s characterized the Deal Bar as a fresh, curated, one-stop destination for on-trend gifts, seasonal finds and everyday essentials. From: HomePage News
February 18 – Numerator: January Consumer Confidence Slipped, Discretionary Spend Held Steady
Consumers with spare cash said they’re putting it in savings (35%), and paying down debts (32%), while 12% said they don’t have any spare cash, according to Numerator. From: HomePage News
February 17 – 2026 Retail Real Estate Market Outlook Mixed After Positive Q4
The positive swing in the second half of 2025 cancelled out the negative net absorption witnessed during the first six months of the year. From: HomePage News
February 17 – Depop Campaign Markets Secondhand as Everyday Income Opportunity
Depop, a global peer-to-peer marketplace, has launched a new national marketing campaign in the United States designed to position resale as a practical personal economy. From: HomePage News
February 17 – Placer.ai: New Walmart and Target CEOs Face Different Tasks with Q4 Results Looming
Retail foot traffic tracker Placer.ai has released a study looking at the prospects faced by new leaders taking the reins at Walmart and Target. From: HomePage News
February 16 – Report: Amazon Planning Second Chicagoland Superstore
The Chicago Tribune reported Amazon has sought a permit to develop a 225,000-square-foot store in suburban Oak Brook, west of the Windy City. From: HomePage News
February 16 – Do it Best and True Value Report Q2 Results
December became the strongest e-commerce month in company history, when e-commerce sales increased nearly 60% YOY for the month of December and same-day pickup orders rose 24% year over year as a percentage of total orders. From: Hardware Retailing
February 16 – Survey: U.S. Businesses, Consumers Bore Brunt of Tariff Burden Through 2025
As the tariff and sourcing situation changed, so did the balance between what part of the excise foreign exporters and U.S. importers accepted, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York observed. From: HomePage News
February 16 – Pampered Chef Teams with Chef Kat Ashmore in Women’s Day Promotion
Pampered Chef has introduced a promotion dubbed “Women Who Stir Up Change” in partnership with Kat Ashmore, a chef, two-time New York Times bestselling author and social media personality. From: HomePage News
February 16 – Redfin: Housing Cost Pressure on Singles Narrow Their Spending Options
64% of single people in the United States struggle to afford their regular rent or mortgage payments compared to 39% of married people. From: HomePage News
February 13 – eBay Climate Plan Promotes Recommerce, Outlines Structural Shifts
As a global marketplace, eBay noted it recognizes that the company has a responsibility to help shape a more sustainable future and drive a just transition to a net-zero economy. From: HomePage News
February 13 – Do it Best Implements Distribution Center Optimization Plan
The optimization plan follows a third-party collaboration and analysis of current and future distribution center and routing needs and is part of Do it Best’s continued integration with True Value. From: Hardware Retailing
February 13 – Retail Posts Modest Monthly Gain, Solid Year-Over-Year Growth in January
January’s results follow a record-breaking November/December holiday season, NRF pointed out, when sales grew 4.1% year-over-year. From: HomePage News
February 12 – Viral Demand Surges Create New Challenge for Supply Chains
At a time when supply chains have been subjected to multiple pressures, including those from port strikes and tariffs, viral surges have become an additional challenge. From: HomePage News
February 12 – Retail Gains Helped ISM Services Sector Expand in January
Economic activity in the services sector, helped by retail gains, continued to expand in January. From: Home Page News
February 12 – Target Teams With OpenAI to Extend Retail Advertising to ChatGPT
Target Corp. has announced it will serve as an early tester of contextual advertising on ChatGPT as traffic from ChatGPT to Target is growing 40% each month on average, the retailer reported. From: HomePage News
February 11 – Saks Integrating Horchow Homewares Business into Neiman Marcus Operation
“We are initiating a series of actions to reinforce Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman as the ultimate destinations for luxury with a seamless multi-channel shopping experience,” said Saks CEO Geoffroy van Raemdonck. From: HomePage News
February 11– Nordstrom Enlists Luxury Brands for 125th Anniversary Celebration
The department store is celebrating the whole year, with activations from the likes of Chanel and Christian Louboutin, limited-edition products and an even bigger Anniversary Sale. Nordstrom Rack is also joining in with loyalty offers and a curated list of 125 deals in September. From: Retail Dive
February 11– Williams-Sonoma Joining Test of OpenAI’s ChatGPT Advertising Initiative
Participation in the OpenAI program represents a natural extension of the company’s commitment to innovation, Williams-Sonoma maintained. From: HomePage News
February 10 – Reports: Food52 Sold in Three Pieces at Bankruptcy Auction
Food52 was sold in three pieces through a bankruptcy auction in a Delaware court, according to published reports. From: HomePage News
February 10 – Credit Card Balances Rise in Q4 2025
Total outstanding U.S. consumer credit reached $5.11 trillion for the fourth quarter of 2025, according to the Federal Reserve’s G.19 Consumer Credit Report. From: Hardware Retailing
February 10 – CVS Rides Gains in Products Sales, Front-End Comps to Q4 Wall Street Beat
CVS Health beat analyst estimates for its fourth-quarter profits and revenues with a lift from gains in product sales and front-store comps. From: HomePage News
February 10 – Target Continues Executive Suite Makeover Under New CEO Fiddelke
Target stated executive leadership changes under new CEO Michael Fiddelke are aimed at accelerating the company’s growth plans, follow recent additions to the board of directors that directly support the chief executive’s focus on strengthening merchandising authority and elevating guest experience. From: HomePage News
February 10 – Core Home Rolls Out Fresh Coordinated Thyme&Table Collection for Walmart
The latest Thyme&Table introductions from Core Home aim to inspire shoppers to refresh their kitchen décor, and include cutting boards, knife sets, tea kettles, bread pans, mixing bowls, mugs and water bottles. From: HomePage News
February 9 – Survey: Consumers Open to AI Shopping Assistants, But Expectations Are High
In the survey, 72% of consumers expected AI assistants to help them shop online by finding deals and gift ideas and by providing advice. From: HomePage News
February 9 – Port Tracker: Tariffs, Uncertainty Still Pressuring Import Volumes
Import volume at major container ports in the United States is likely to decline significantly year over year in the first half of 2026. From: HomePage News
February 9 – Sally Beauty Reports Q1 Earnings Beat, Flat Comparable Sales
For its first fiscal quarter, Sally Beauty Holdings adjusted earnings and revenue increased, but while profits beat a Wall Street analyst estimate, revenues came in just short of expectations. From: HomePage News
February 9 – Kroger Names Former Walmart Exec Foran CEO
Greg Foran will succeed Ron Sargent, who has served as interim CEO since March 2025. Sargent will continue to serve as Kroger board chairman, the company noted. From: HomePage News
February 7 – Gen Z is Nostalgic for 2016 Amid Economic Unease. Mall Brands Like Abercrombie & Fitch May See a Revival
Brands that peaked culturally in the mid-2010s may have an advantage if they can successfully tap into their 2016-era appeal. From: CNBC
February 6 – Newell Delivers Improved Q4 Results, Points to Gains in 2026
For the fourth quarter, Newell Brands’ financials came in largely in line with Wall Street guidance, as adjusted profit rose, but sales slipped slightly. From: HomePage News
February 6 – How 2 Independent Grocers are Using Facial Recognition to Combat Theft
The system the company installed, supplied by RealNetworks and called SAFR Guard, immediately turned out to be an effective deterrent, enabling Fiesta Foods to dramatically cut down on shrink, said Grocery Outlet GM Luis Moreno. From: Grocery Dive
February 6 – Amazon Exceeds Sales Estimates, Misses Earnings as Retail Expansion Continues
Amazon generated sales that exceeded analyst estimates but earnings that fell short, as the company announced it would invest heavily in capacity expansion, including for its retail operations. From: HomePage News
February 5 – Costco Starts Year with January Sales Gains
Comparable sales for the month rose 6.8% in the United States, excluding the impact of gasoline prices and foreign exchange. From: HomePage News
February 5 – Survey: Store Managers Look Ahead to 2026 With Cautious Optimism
When asked to choose a primary advantage brick-and-mortar retail enjoys, 39.8% of store managers most often selected in-person customer service and support From: HomePage News
February 5 – Border Patrol, Canadian Ire Dampening Traffic at Simon Malls
Simon centers along the northern U.S. border have lost some momentum because “Canadians are really pissed off” and there’s been “a little bit of sales disruption in certain markets where there were a lot of ICE [border control] activity,” Simon said. From: Retail Dive
February 5 – Urban League Round Up at the Register Returns to Schnucks
“For more than 50 years, Schnucks has worked with the Urban League by supporting the great work they do making our communities stronger by lifting, empowering and providing residents the tools they need to make a better tomorrow,” said Schnucks CEO. From: Drug Store News
February 4 – Albertsons Celebrates Launch of Online Party Planning & Purchasing Portal
Albertsons designed Celebrations as a destination where consumers can explore curated party ideas, add personalized details and check out in minutes, the company noted. From: HomePage News
February 4 – Simon Revitalizing Three Malls to Anchor a More Luxurious Future
Simon announced a $250 million investment program to rejuvenate three malls in its portfolio: The Mall at Green Hills in Nashville, Cherry Creek Shopping Center in Denver and International Plaza in Tampa. From: HomePage News
February 4 – Numerator Previews Consumer Intent to Celebrate Various Holidays in 2026
Top holidays for celebrating at home are Christmas, for 70% of consumers expecting to celebrate Halloween (68%), Hanukkah (64%), Thanksgiving (59%) and Easter (58%). From: HomePage News
February 3 – Refunds Rise as Retailers Consider New Ways to Manage Them
Refund volume gains came amid continued growth in worldwide e-commerce, the global payments company noted. From: HomePage News
February 3 – Target Adds Stores as CEO Fiddelke Sets Priorities
Target noted that the six store openings are part of a 30-store new initiative that the company is advancing this year and a 300-store new store plan the company is executing through 2035. From: HomePage News
February 3 – Survey: Millennials Lead ‘Retail Therapy’ Spending as Emotional Shopping Rises
Millennials are the most likely generation to engage in retail therapy, defined as shopping to relieve distressing feelings, such as stress, with an average of 160 purchases per year for relaxation. From: HomePage News
February 2 – West Elm Rolls Out ‘Pink Chicken’ Home Collection for Spring
Pink Chicken for West Elm Kids reimagines the brand’s signature prints for children’s spaces, the Williams-Sonoma banner noted. From: HomePage News
February 2 – Here Are the Retailers with the Most Store Openings and Closures Planned for 2026
Store closures in the U.S. are expected to fall to the lowest level in the past three years, as the retail industry moves beyond a major wave of bankruptcies. From: CNBC
February 2 – Nordstrom, Still Keen on Luxury Off-Price, To Expand Rack Portfolio
The announcement of the Nordstrom Rack activity follows Saks Global’s decision to shutter all Last Call stores and nearly all Off Fifth stores. From: HomePage News
February 2 – Bed Bath & Beyond Acquires Tokens.com To Boost Home Services Operations
Bed Bath & Beyond has signed an agreement to acquire Tokens.com as a foundation for a unified investment and personal finance platform that can serve as a one-stop destination for real estate and other real-world asset financing. From: HomePage News
February 2 – New CEO Fiddelke Plots Target’s Design-Forward Renaissance
Reemphasis on large-format Target stores comes after the company’s push to open smaller, limited-assortment operations in densely populated urban areas, designed to satisfy immediate shopping needs and serve as delivery hubs. From: HomePage News
