Bain: US retail sales to grow 4.5% YoY in holiday shopping season in Nov-Dec “…well ahead of a 3.5% YoY rise recorded in the 2025 holiday season…performance to exceed $1 trillion for the first time.” Press release

 

Costco August comp sales (ex-fuel & f/x) +5.4%: US +5.6% / Canada +2.8% / Other Int’l +6.8% / Digitally-Enabled +17.9% “…net sales of $23.70 billion for the retail month of August, the four weeks ended August 30, 2026, an increase of 9.9 percent from $21.56 billion last year.” Press release

 

Walmart Expands Restaurant Delivery with Dunkin’ “…Walmart is a rapidly emerging contender in the restaurant delivery business. With an unparalleled store footprint within 10 miles of approximately 90% of the U.S. population…” Press release

 

Victoria’s Secret & Co. Q2 comp sales +9.0% Press release

 

Duluth Trading Co. Q2 net sales decline 7.8% / Direct-to-consumer net sales decreased by 11.5% / Retail store net sales decreased by 2.4% Press release

 

Ollie’s Q2 comp sales decline 1.8% Press release

 

Five Below Q2 comp sales +14.1% “… opened 52 net new stores and ended the quarter with 2,022 stores in 46 states…Net income was $221.4 million compared to $42.8 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2025.” Press release

 

REI vet leading Rivian’s bike startup and retail hub in Seattle Read more

 

Costco has abruptly discontinued its Costco Next online marketplace at USA Today. “The service…would let Costco members order discounted products and services directly from several dozen companies…” Read more

 

CVS Health hires Dentsu Creative, retains Omnicom for media Ad Age subs.

 

Amazon’s shopping AI can now tell you if that message is a scam TechCrunch

 

Chinese e-commerce moves to next phase after delivery price war changes shopping habits at Reuters. “The instant-retail market is set to be worth 1.2 trillion yuan ($178 billion) by year-end and grow at an average annual rate of ⁠12.6% through 2030, Ministry of Commerce research showed.” Reuters subs.

 

Petco Q2 comp sales +0.6% Press release

 

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