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 Quartz/Yahoo

 

Powerful quake hits southern Japan, deaths feared in shopping mall explosion CNBC

 

Of Costco and Cliques at NY Times. “…grocery shopping is as lucid a mirror of our moment as anything else…different merchants target different groups with a promise to validate their particular tastes, accommodate their specific values, affirm their exact stations. They’re marketing identity as much as they are poultry and peanut butter. They’re creating tribes.” NY Times subs.

 

National group launches ad blitz against Kroger over dynamic pricing concerns at Local 12 Cincy. “My friends and family stopped shopping at Kroger, and I’m joining them. Kroger is ripping us off at the register. Learn more at krogerhurtsfamilies.com.,” said a young mom in the TV ad. The Center for Responsible Food Business is the non-profit behind the ad.” Read more

 

Amazon’s Jeff Bezos on how his garage startup became the largest company in the world by revenue at Fortune. “A few of our offerings have become durable pillars, things like Marketplace and Prime and AWS,” Bezos said. “What I see right now is that our chips business, our silicon business, is lining up to be our next pillar.” Fortune subs.

 

Jeff Bezos reportedly joining bid to buy stake in English soccer giant Liverpool FC GeekWire

 

TikTok is testing a Prime-style membership program for some US shoppers…The program, called TikTok Shop Plus, is built into Shop, its e-commerce platform…it offers members a mix of perks like free shipping, product discounts and coupons.” Business Insider subs.

 

Lowe’s Foundation Tops $60 Million in Skilled Trades Training Press release

 

Runners Are Splurging on $350 Shorts and $140 Moth-Hole Tees to Look Good at Bloomberg. “As running increasingly has become a social status symbol and not just a way to exercise, hard-core marathoners and casual run club joggers alike are spending more to look better when they sweat…these days it’s as much about making sure everyone identifies you as a runner when you’re out at brunch or the grocery store.” Bloomberg subs.

 

Tractor Supply to close 75 Petsense locations Fox Business