Dollar General sees softer sales ahead
"We are taking decisive action to further enhance our value and convenience offering, as well as the in-store experience for our associates and customers.”
Business
Target reports 2% growth in Q2
Comparable sales increased 2.0 percent in the second quarter, reflecting a comparable store sales increase of 0.7 percent and a comparable digital sales increase of 8.7 percent. Comp sales growth was driven by a 3 per cent increase in traffic.
Mars buys Kellanova for $36 billion
Kellanova’s portfolio complements the existing Mars portfolio.
NRF: Economy still growing, but could be slowing enough for fed to lower interest rates this year
“The consumer environment has kept the expansion on a positive path toward a ‘soft landing’ despite high interest rates."
Amazon reports profitable Q2, but offers a cautious outlook for Q3
Amazon on Thursday reported strong sales and improved profits in its fiscal second quarter, but the company's stock price fell in after-hours trading after the company noted that sales and profits may fall somewhat in the third quarter.
Kroger-Albertsons merger put on hold by a Colorado judge
The proposed $25 billion merger of Kroger Co. and Albertsons Cos. is on hold today after a Colorado judge issued a preliminary injunction to halt it until after a September 30 trial.
Credit card ‘swipe’ fees to account for nearly $3 billion of 2024 back-to-school costs
WASHINGTON – “Swipe” fees banks charge merchants to process credit card transactions will drive up the price of school and college supplies by almost $3 billion this year and cost the average family between $20 and $30, the Merchants Payments Coalition said today.
Consumers are ‘resigned’ and mostly living paycheck-to-paycheck, Kearney reports
CHICAGO – The Kearney Consumer Institute (KCI) has released their 2024 Q2 Consumer Stress Index. Based on a finely calibrated set of macroeconomic data and consumer input, the Index provides a multi-faceted view of consumer sentiment, beyond economics.
Survey shows voters want Congress to pass the Credit Card Competition Act
WASHINGTON – An overwhelming majority of likely voters want Congress to pass the Credit Card Competition Act, according to a new survey by the Merchants Payments Coalition. The survey also found that both Democrats and Republicans are more likely to support Senate candidates who back the measure.
NielsenIQ launches expanded Liquor Channel Open State view
NielsenIQ (NIQ) has launched its new Liquor Channel Open State view, an expanded and enhanced measurement of the Liquor Off Premise Retail Channel.
Inflation concerns rise, AI, ice cream and back-to-school trends
Consumers are cutting back. In its July Consumer Digest, 84.51° reveals that shopper concern over inflation has risen to 66% – the highest level since March 2024.
CommerceIQ publishes proprietary data insights from Prime Day 2024
CommerceIQ, a leading retail ecommerce management (REM) platform, today released the results from their hour-by-hour analysis of Amazon’s Prime Day 2024 event, which took place July 16 – 17, 2024.
Kantar study details DEI impact on consumers
Kantar has released their annual Brand Inclusion Index for 2024, which ranks the most inclusive brands of the year based on recognition by consumers for setting a positive example by demonstrating a genuine commitment to DE&I. A key finding shows that 8 in 10 U.S.
Census data shows modest sales gains in June
WASHINGTON – Data released by the U.S. Census Bureau Tuesday shows modest retail sales gains in June despite an uneven pace of spending in recent months, National Retail Federation Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz said. “The path of household spending remains difficult to read,” Kleinhenz said.
Back-to-school spending flattens amid financial concerns
Today, Deloitte released the results of its “2024 Back-to-School Retail Survey,” which examines consumers’ spending intent amid financial concerns as they balance priorities ahead of the back-to-school season.
FTI says online retail sales to hit $1.2 Trillion
FTI Consulting projects that U.S. online retail sales will reach $1.2 trillion in 2024, an increase of nearly 10% from last year, according to the firm’s 2024 Online Retail Report. The firm’s Retail & Consumer Products practice, which conducted analysis for the report, expects U.S.