Ralph Lauren and Tapestry sidestep luxury slowdown: The two companies beat expectations thanks to brand elevation efforts that resulted in higher AUR.

US beauty demand is normalizing as price sensitivities creep into purchasing behavior: That’s good news for e.l.f. Beauty but an added struggle for Coty and Estée Lauder, for which China remains a hurdle.

Under Armour’s turnaround gained momentum: But the company’s sales still fell 10% on a currency-neutral basis—a marked contrast with Puma, which reported a 5% jump in revenues.

Trump’s tariff proposals will eat into consumers’ discretionary spend: The price of goods such as shoes, toasters, and mattress and box springs will soar under the across-the-board tariff plan.

Uniqlo, Ikea join luxury companies’ real estate spending spree: The two retailers snapped up prime space on Fifth Avenue to lock in their spots in a busy retail corridor.

Walmart imported fewer goods this holiday season: While that could be a sign that it expects tepid sales, it also reflects the retailer’s growing reliance on third-party marketplace sellers to broaden its product assortment.

Walmart tests a new locking system to combat retail theft: The retailer needs to ensure its solution isn’t worse than the problem itself.

Retailers face more potential supply-chain shocks as Canadian dockworkers go on strike: That’s in addition to the still unresolved tensions between the International Longshoremen’s Association and East and Gulf Coast ports.

Consumers steer clear of fast food despite QSR price war: Burger King, KFC, Pizza Hut, and Popeye’s all saw comparable sales fall in Q3—although Taco Bell’s value proposition kept it ahead of the pack.

Franchise Group is the latest retailer to file for bankruptcy: The parent company of banners that include Pet Supplies Plus and The Vitamin Shoppe plans to shutter its American Freight brand.

The UK budget will eat into retailers’ bottom lines: Primark owner Associated British Foods expects its national insurance bill to rise by “tens of millions” of pounds.

Retailers turn to returnless refunds to cut costs and boost loyalty: Amazon, Walmart, and Chewy are among the companies that rely on flexible returns policies to keep shoppers in the fold.

Shein, Temu, and Alibaba expand their US warehouse presence: The push dovetails with the US crackdown on the de minimis loophole.

Retailers tour college campuses: Brands ranging from Ikea to Rent the Runway are using the events to build awareness and connect with consumers.

Yum China bucks difficult retail environment thanks to more promotions, rapid store expansion, and durian pizza: The KFC and Pizza Hut operator’s efforts to offer more value and reach consumers in lower-tier cities drove sales and transaction growth in Q3.

Grocers experiment with new formats and products to target Asian, Hispanic consumers: Kroger, Walmart, and Save A Lot are among the retailers looking to attract a more diverse audience.

Mango replaces some human models with genAI: The retailer is bullish on the technology’s ability to speed up content creation and reduce costs, despite some skepticism from consumers

The number of US homes changing hands is incredibly low: That poses a challenge to housing-related retailers like Wayfair.

Record Prime Day sales, booming ad business powered Amazon to Q3 earnings beat: The retailer expects to carry that momentum into Q4.

Chinese consumers aren’t buying as much beer as they used to: Anheuser-Busch InBev and Carlsberg both reported bigger-than-expected volume declines in Q3.