JD.com challenges Meituan’s food delivery dominance: The Chinese ecommerce giant will hire 100,000 workers to help break the latter’s hold on the industry.

Walmart announces lengthy beauty sale as it looks to protect its advantage: The retailer is expanding its assortment and refining the in-store experience to appeal to a wider variety of shoppers.

Smaller sales can produce big results: Once again, Amazon is using category-specific sales events to drive increasingly cautious consumers to spend.

Global gains power L’Oréal past expectations as US market cools: CEO Nicolas Hieronimus flagged slowing beauty demand and US retailer constraints but noted the brand is well positioned to handle tariff-driven disruptions.

Brands keep quiet on sustainability this Earth Month: Green initiatives among retailers are few and far between due to anti-ESG campaigns and tariff concerns.

The Trump administration injects more uncertainty into supply chains with new ship fees: While less stringent than initially proposed, the levies will raise costs and complicate operations.

There’s little relief in store for the housing industry: Housing starts plunged in March, while the country’s largest homebuilder warned of weak demand.

Michaels looks to attract Party City and Joann’s shoppers: The crafts retailer expands its selection of party supplies and balloons, while also enhancing its in-store events.

Target’s foot traffic has declined for 10 straight weeks: The drop followed its decision to step back from DEI efforts, a topic the CEO discussed with activist Al Sharpton.

Tariffs imperil beauty industry just as post-pandemic boom slows: Costs are expected to spike as duties hit key imports, leaving brands scrambling to maintain sales without alienating price-conscious buyers.

Retail leasing demand hit a post-pandemic low in Q1: Retailers and landlords alike have been hesitant to lease or purchase property for new store builds amid continued macroeconomic uncertainty.

California sues to stop tariffs as legal challenges pile up: The state is arguing that Trump lacks the authority to implement the duties, which will cause significant harm to its economy.

Consumer spending surged in March: But the rapid decline in consumer sentiment and likely surge in inflation is sure to slow that momentum in the coming months.

Retail sales in China in March grew 5.9%: Government subsidies drove the fastest growth since December 2023, but the escalating US‑China trade war is likely to curb spending in the months ahead.

Furniture retail squeezed by high acquisition costs: Industry KPI data shows the sector at a disadvantage as economic uncertainty and tariffs drive up the cost of winning customers.

Mercado Libre will grow its headcount by 33% this year to solidify Latin America ecommerce dominance: The company looks to strengthen its business in Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina—its three largest markets.

Albertsons struggles to fend off competition from mass merchants and club retailers: The grocer is leaning on promotions, private labels, and its pharmacy business to attract value-focused shoppers.

International boycotts of US brands and travel could cost the economy up to $90 billion: Rising anti-American sentiment caused by Trump’s policies is making it harder for companies to operate at home and abroad.

Lowe’s agreed to buy Artisan Design Group for $1.33 billion: The move should enhance the home improvement retailer’s market position when the housing sector rebounds.

Temu pulls its Google Shopping ads: The escalating US-China trade war puts the company’s business model at risk and threatens ad giants like Meta and Google.