CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor’s December numbers reveal strong holiday season spending
Based on Retail Monitor data, 2025 holiday sales from Nov. 1 through Dec. 31 grew 4.1%.
Retail News
Kroger expands generative AI efforts with Google Cloud to boost personalization
Retailer will use Google Cloud new agentic platform, Gemini Enterprise for customer experience, to simplify and transform how customers shop and eat.
Walmart and Google announce an agentic AI e-commerce integration at NRF's "Big Show"
The announcement came Sunday at the National Retail Federation’s “Big Show,” where Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet, joined John Furner, Walmart’s incoming CEO, on stage to discuss the retailer’s transformation and the role artificial intelligence will play in its future.
U.S. port imports expected to turn positive by late spring
Trade policy remains a significant variable in the outlook for 2026.
Kroger sells Vitacost to sharpen focus on core business
Kroger stated that the divestiture is part of a broader review of non-core assets as the company progresses with priorities.
Walmart launches Better Care Services and lowers prices on wellness essentials
Better Care Services connects customers to a network of third-party providers for urgent care and behavioral health.
Deloitte’s 2026 Retail Outlook: Five forces impacting the industry
Nearly all respondents expect rising costs due to trade policies.
Retail job cuts surge to post-2020 high
Retail’s decline reflected broader labor market stress.
Walmart appoints Shishir Mehrotra to board
He will serve on the board’s Compensation and Management Development Committee and the Technology and eCommerce Committee.
Albertsons banks on pharmacy in Q3 as pricing pressures mount
“Pharmacy remains a key growth driver for us,” says CEO Susan Morris.
Flu reaches highest level in the U.S. in quite some time
The Walgreens Respiratory Index offers an early, data-driven view of disease trends as nearly every state reports high or very high flu activity.
Target unveils a new era in wellness
Thousands of items are priced under $10 to help consumers build health and wellness routines for every budget.
Albertsons Media Collective launches incrementality measurement capability
New tool aims to prove true media impact of in-store campaigns and plans expansion.
Birdzi launches Journey to automate custom shopper experiences
Journey connects retailer shopper data with Birdzi’s unmatched personalization capabilities, enabling retailers to automatically deliver custom promotions and increase engagement.
Food Lion Feeds and Boys & Girls Clubs of America team to Empower Youth
New partnership invests $250,000 in health and wellness programs at 20 Boys & Girls Clubs of America sites.
Circana debuts AI-driven testing tool to speed in-store decisions
Liquid Testing uses AI-powered test design, automatic store matching, and easy-to-understand reports to deliver results in days rather than weeks or months.