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 50 cases it normally sees every year.” Bloomberg subs.

 

How $9.99 Became the Most Compelling Price in Retail at WSJ. “People don’t spend tons of time looking through the shelves of retailers, right?” said Lupberger. When shoppers see a price that starts with a 10 instead of a nine, “that’s a very, very different price experience…Other psychologically important price points: below $5 and below $20.” WSJ subs.

 

A hidden pipeline brings Amazon and Walmart to African shoppers at Reuters. “Afrety’s service provides shoppers with delivery addresses at warehouses in France, the United States and China. Multiple purchases can be consolidated for each customer and repackaged for dispatch to West Africa. On arrival, customs duties are paid, benefiting local governments.” Reuters subs.

 

JUNE: CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor -“The summer shopping season got off to a strong start in June,” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said…Total retail sales, excluding automobile dealers and gasoline stations, were up 0.33% seasonally adjusted month over month and up 9.41% unadjusted year over year in June.” Press release

 

In Rare Interview, Caleres CEO Jay Schmidt Gives a Peek Behind the Curtain Inside Stuart Weitzman at WWD. “To me, Stuart Weitzman made a perfect fit into our company,” said Caleres president and chief executive officer Jay Schmidt, in his first in-depth interview about the strategic rationale for the acquisition. “It is an iconic brand, has unique consumer relevance, and a long-standing position in the luxury fashion footwear market…” Read more

 

The One Thing Everyone in America Can Agree On? Costco at WSJ. “To some, the thought of a retailer or any brand with mass appeal forming the basis of collective understanding may sound ridiculous, but historians and cultural observers have long pointed to postwar prosperity as the bedrock of America’s deep attachment to consumerism, along with retail-therapy rituals that have been framed as patriotic at times.” WSJ subs.

 

How Brands Sneak In Cheaper Ingredients to Protect Their Profit Margins at Bloomberg. “Right now there’s a raft of startups working on fake chocolate, though Civille doubts a truly convincing dupe can be engineered…Peanuts are also tough to crack. Even if you get the flavor close to right, you also have to nail that unctuous peanut butter texture.” Bloomberg subs.

 

2026 Top Women in Grocery at Progressive Grocer: Senior Level Execs / Risings Stars 1 / Rising Stars 2

 

Amazon Shipping is offering corporate shippers simplified pricing, waived residential surcharges and rates that can run up to 30% below comparable FedEx and UPS pricing The Street

 

China’s June exports surge 27% from a year earlier as AI boom drives strong demand at AP. “…trade in electronic components, computer spare parts, and other computing hardware jumped nearly 57% to 5.1 trillion yuan ($760 billion) in the first half of the year.” Read more