Amazon, Walmart AI detect 'made in USA' fraud but do not flag it, study says at Reuters. "When the ​AI bots are queried on why the companies are not doing more to combat the false labeling, the AI-driven ​chatbots have cited business justifications. When researchers asked Walmart's Sparky why it does not flag suspicious "made in USA" claims, it responded that the FTC typically enforces "made in USA" rules against manufacturers, not retailers." Reuters subs.   Boot Barn Holdings, Inc. Q1 net sales +17.7% / comp store sales +4.7% Press release   eBay settles for nearly $56M after former [...]

  Apple plans to lease iPhones for $17.99 a month through partnership with Klarna at CNBC. "As a lease, devices will have to be returned at the end of 24 months. Users can also purchase their phone at that time with an additional payment, or upgrade to a new device. No security deposit is required and, while Klarna won’t charge late fees, it will terminate leases after three months of missed payments." Read more   Shein posted a $99 million net loss in Q1 of 2026, swinging from a $395 million profit in the same period a year earlier at [...]

  Kraft Heinz Strikes Deal With Disney to Supply Resorts and Tap Characters at WSJ. "Think condiment stations at Disneyland with ketchup dispensers shaped like Star Wars lightsabers, Amaya said in an interview. Other possibilities: Cinderella Mac & Cheese, or Jet-Puffed marshmallows marketed with images of Olaf, Frozen’s snowman." WSJ subs.   Hasbro Q2 Revenue +16% "...driven by growth in Wizards and Digital Gaming (+27%) and Consumer Products (+5%), partially offset by a decline in Entertainment (-20%)." Press release   Kroger beats Walmart, Aldi in price war at Fox Business. "A new study from Restaurant Furniture Plus compared the cost [...]

  U.S. grocery slowdown deepens as shoppers buy fewer items at CNBC. "Grocery unit sales fell 1.8% in June vs. last year as shoppers cut back, outweighing food inflation, new Bain data shows...Grocery prices are roughly 33% higher than they were in 2019..." Read more   Uber Agrees to Buy Delivery Hero in $14.8 Billion Deal at Bloomberg. "The acquisition marks a sizable expansion in Asia, Latin America and the Middle East for Uber and boosts its total markets to 99 from 79." Bloomberg subs.   Associated Wholesale Grocers Names BJ's Executive as New CFO "Kelly Kauffman will join the [...]

  Consumer prices rose 3.5% annually in June vs. 3.8% expected at CNBC. "Consumer prices posted their biggest decline in more than six years during June...CPI fell a seasonally adjusted 0.4% for the month, bringing the annual inflation rate down to 3.5%. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones had been looking for a drop of 0.2% and an inflation rate of 3.8%." Read more   Michigan Points to Salad Greens as Potential Source of Severe Diarrhea Outbreak at Bloomberg. "Michigan reported 2,640 cases of cyclosporiasis as of July 13, a 69% surge over the weekend to well beyond the 40 to [...]

  Costco June comp sales (ex-fuel & f/x) +7.0% (US +7.6% / Canada +4.9% / Other Int'l +5.6% / Digital +21.5%) "...net sales of $29.24 billion for the retail month of June, the five weeks ended July 5, 2026, an increase of 10.6 percent from $26.44 billion last year." Press release   He Earns $33 an Hour as a Costco Cashier. Now He’s a Millionaire. at WSJ. "Barzar has been asked to become a supervisor but has declined. He likes the direct contact he has with shoppers as a cashier and feels he can act as an effective mentor to [...]

  Trump says Walmart cut prices at his request, but Walmart statement omits administration’s role at AP. "...one of the biggest, best, and smartest Retailers in America, Walmart, will be lowering prices, by a lot, at my Administration’s request to celebrate our great Country’s 250th birthday,” Trump said. “Walmart will, in particular, be dropping the price for a pound of ground beef by almost 15%, among many other products.” Read more   ....63% drop on sweet corn / 50% drop on red cherries / Sam's 30% wing discount Press release   BJ’s roof collapses during heavy rain - temporarily trapping [...]

  Amazon, Walmart-owned Flipkart get ready to shake up India’s delivery-in-minutes sector at CNBC. "Amazon wants to become the “largest delivery-in-minutes network” in India as it plans to expand quick commerce services to 300 cities. Flipkart said last week that it has set up over 1,000 micro fulfilment centers across more than 130 cities in India." Read more   Dollar Tree, Inc. Announces $2.5 Billion Share Repurchase Authorization Press release   Kroger Announces Agreement to Acquire Giant Eagle Press release   Sam's Club rotisserie chicken dethrones Costco at Fast Company. "Consumer Reports blind-tested rotisserie chickens from 10 grocery chains to [...]