Major UK retailers like Currys, B&Q, Amazon, and Lidl met with the energy minister to discuss selling "balcony solar panels." These plug-in devices aim to help renters and flat dwellers generate their own electricity, cut bills, and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
Despite a push for omnichannel retailing, India's major retailers have experienced minimal growth in e-commerce's share of total revenue since 2021-22. Online sales increased in absolute terms, but the pandemic-driven surge in digital sales did not sustain, with some retailers seeing flat or only 1-2 percentage point increases.
As Amazon's Prime Day 2026 approaches, this report details price-matching policies of major retailers like Target, Best Buy, Walmart, and others. Policies vary significantly, with many excluding special sales events, membership discounts, and third-party sellers.
Bavarian retailers have low expectations for the World Cup, anticipating €300-400 million in sales unless Germany advances past the round of 16. Late kick-offs, reduced public viewing, and political controversies are dampening enthusiasm, while employers are reminded to uphold labor laws.
A man in China has been sentenced to three years and ten months in prison for extorting lottery retailers. He exploited their illegal online operations, threatening to report their accounts and demanding "protection fees." Many victims, fearing repercussions for their own violations, paid him, enabling the crime spree across multiple provinces.
Indian regional retailers from Tier-II and Tier-III towns are planning to raise over Rs 7,000 crore through IPOs to fund expansion. This trend reflects a structural shift in consumption towards smaller cities, driven by rising incomes, digital adoption, and aspirational spending.
Sonos Era 100 smart speaker is on sale for $189, Google Nest Doorbell (wired) for $140, and a 2K Sports bundle for $25 on PC.
Consumer group CHOICE warns that online retail giants like Amazon, Temu, AliExpress, and eBay are exploiting legal loopholes to sell banned or unsafe products in Australia, including dangerous toys and flammable garments. The ACCC is investigating and taking action, but CHOICE urges the government to introduce a general safety provision.
Queensland's crackdown on illicit tobacco and vapes has forced retailers online, but the black market is adapting. Researchers note a "marked difference" in availability, while convenience stores report a "flow back" to illicit sales after initial shutdowns.
Choice investigation found unsafe and banned products like toy lighters, gel blasters, and flick knives being sold on Australian online marketplaces. The consumer group has lodged a 'super' complaint with the ACCC, urging stricter product safety laws.
Korean retailers and food companies are launching World Cup marketing campaigns, shifting focus from late-night snacks to convenient morning-after options and 'home viewing' packages due to weekday morning game times. Marketing highlights 'soccer games,' 'cheering,' and the color 'red,' leveraging star player Son Heung-min.
The Mall, a new app, aims to simplify online shopping by allowing users to create personalized virtual malls of their favorite brands, track sales, and discover new items. It uses web scraping and LLMs to aggregate product and pricing data, with plans for a B2B data analytics tool for brands.
Retailers saw a surprisingly robust first quarter, buoyed by higher tax refunds and increased use of buy now, pay later services. However, analysts anticipate a more strained consumer in Q2 as these supports fade and inflation/gas prices exert greater pressure.
Japan's planned 8% sales tax cut on food is delayed due to inflexible cash registers requiring a major overhaul, potentially taking up to a year, amidst funding concerns and accusations of delay tactics.
Energy bills in parts of Australia will decrease by up to 10% for households and 20% for small businesses from July, driven by record renewable energy and battery storage. Despite this, investment in new wind and solar projects has declined.
Energy bills in South Australia, New South Wales, and southeast Queensland will decrease by up to 10.7% for households and 20.9% for small businesses from July. This follows a record increase in renewables and battery storage in the national grid.
Nine in 10 rural UK retailers have been victims of crime in the past year, with an average financial cost of £83,000 per business, according to NFU Mutual research. The findings highlight the significant impact of theft and shoplifting, even in remote areas.
BPCL Director Raj Kumar Dubey warned of unavoidable petrol and diesel price hikes due to ongoing global energy disruptions and rising crude oil prices. India is diversifying oil sources, including Russian crude, to avoid shortages and accelerate its transition to green energy.
Mainland Chinese retail brands are increasingly entering Hong Kong, with a notable shift from food and beverage to non-F&B sectors like fashion, beauty, and jewelry, according to JLL analysts. This trend is helping landlords fill vacant retail spaces.
South Korean retailers are launching various discount events for fashion, home appliances, food, and beverages ahead of the summer season and the upcoming holiday.
Ross Stores and TJX report strong sales driven by increased transactions across all income levels, indicating consumers are seeking value. Walmart warns of consumer stress due to high gas prices, while Deckers Outdoor notes healthy spending on premium brands. This mixed picture impacts Fed rate decisions.
Indian gold jewellery retailers expect a 13-15% sales volume decline this fiscal due to high gold prices and import curbs. Despite this, robust revenue growth of 20-25% is projected, driven by higher realisations, ensuring stable credit profiles.
Gold prices showed mixed trends on May 20, 2026. Tanishq, Malabar Gold & Diamonds, Joyalukkas, and Kalyan Jewellers saw an increase in 22k gold rates, while IBJA reported a decline for gold and silver.
Google announced Universal Cart, an AI-powered hub for managing online shopping across its products, and Agent Payments Protocol (AP2) for secure, automated purchases. These moves aim to transform AI assistants into active commerce participants.
