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☆ Why America is panicking about shoplifting
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Ally Hill | Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

New York CNN —“Shoplifting in Great Department Stores.” “The Shoplifting Profession.” “No Mercy to Shoplifters.”These headlines could be from articles today. While shoplifting has seemingly never been a bigger problem than it is now, shoplifting has long captured the public’s attention. Angela Weiss/AFP/Getty ImagesAlthough shoplifting increased in some cities during the first half of the year compared to pre-pandemic levels, there is no clear national rise in shoplifting, according to a new analysis by the Council on Criminal Justice, a nonpartisan criminal justice policy organization. Middle-class women shoplifting in Victorian Britain during the 1800s were the focus of an early panic over shoplifting. Fears spread over middle-class women shoplifting during the early years of department stores.

Persons: New York CNN —, ”, ” James Walsh, Alex Vitale, Donald Trump, Angela Weiss, ” Vitale, Michael Flamm, San Francisco —, Adam Gelb, Tammy Whitlock, kleptomania, “ Said, Abbie Hoffman’s, ” Flamm, Abbie Hoffman, John Shearer, Barry Goldwater, Richard Nixon, JC Penney, ” David Johnston, Jeffrey Greenberg, we’d, Jeffrey Butts, “ Organizations: New, New York CNN, Great Department, University of Ontario Institute, Technology’s, CNN, Brooklyn College, ”, Getty, Criminal, Ohio Wesleyan University, “, San, New York Times, University of Kentucky, Consumer Culture, Times, Ohio Wesleyan, National Retail Federation, Retailers, Universal, Commerce, Chamber of Commerce, Department of Justice, “ Research, Research, John Jay College of Criminal Locations: New York, Shoplifters, Britain, America, New York City, Los Angeles, Dallas, Victorian Britain, England, Ohio, Vietnam

☆ You can now use AI in Google to help with your holiday shopping. Here's how
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Jake Piazza | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Google announced Thursday new artificial intelligence tools that can help you with holiday shopping. So, if you're shopping for a 4-year-old nephew this year, it can help you find ideas on what he might like with a command like "gifts for a 4-year-old who likes science." It's the first time that generative artificial intelligence is available in Google Shopping, and comes ahead of the holiday season which might attract people to use the site over other options. People can opt into the new options by going into Search Labs and turning on Search Generative Experiences (SGE.) So, if you wanted to search for a "puffy, colorful metallic-looking jacket" it might return results like the picture below:

Persons: King, King of Prussia Organizations: Google, National Retail Federation, Search Labs Locations: Prussia, King, King of Prussia , Pennsylvania

[1/4] Consumers struggle to enter a store to buy shoes in a store at a shopping center during Black Friday sales, in Caracas, Venezuela November 25, 2022. WILL SHOPPERS FIND BLACK FRIDAY DEALS THIS YEAR? HOW MUCH ARE SHOPPERS EXPECTED TO SPEND? Spending online during Black Friday is expected to rise 5.7% to roughly $9.6 billion, according to Adobe Analytics. Macy's CEO Jeff Gennette on Thursday said the competitive landscape has shifted to Black Friday deals prior to Black Friday.

Persons: Leonardo Fernandez Viloria, Marcus Collins, Collins, Dana Telsey, Jane Hali, Max, Lancome mascaras, Bobbi Brown concealers, Jeff Gennette, Mattel, Steve Totzke, Juveria Tabassum, Savyata Mishra, Richa Naidu, Helen Reid, Josie Kao Organizations: Black, REUTERS, Retailers, Department, Ross School of Business, University of Michigan, Labor, National Retail Federation, Telsey Advisory, Sensormatic Solutions, U.S, Adobe Analytics, Dollar, Walmart, Associates, Nordstrom, Adobe, Consumers, Deloitte, Electronics, Mastercard, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Caracas, Venezuela, U.S, Europe, Philadelphia, Panama, United States, United Kingdom, China, Bengaluru, London

Our experts answer readers' credit card questions and write unbiased product reviews (here's how we assess credit cards). Using your credit card rewards can save you money on travel, gifts, and the credit card bill. You can also earn rewards by strategically using your credit card to cover groceries, shopping, and travel. But your holidays don't have to be more expensive — if you use the right credit card rewards to make those purchases, you can save yourself some money. Here are three ways to use your credit card rewards for holiday shopping:1.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, National Retail Federation, National Retail

☆ Amazon's Astro robot is now a roving security guard for business
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Annie Palmer | In Annierpalmer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Astro for Business is aimed at retailers, manufacturers, and other industries as a security guard that can patrol for break-ins and other threats. Amazon has a new job for its Astro robot: A roving security guard in stores to detect break-ins and other threats. Astro for Business is launching only in the U.S. to start, and it comes at a steep price point of $2,349.99. Amazon is also offering a suite of security products in tandem with Astro for Business for an added fee, such as Ring Protect Pro, which can link Astro to Ring sensors and motion detectors. A virtual security guard service allows Astro to notify remote security centers of a potential threat, such as an unrecognized person, breaking glass or smoke.

Persons: Anthony Robson Organizations: Astro, Business, Amazon, Amazon Astro, National Retail Federation, CNBC Locations: U.S

☆ As Biden and Xi meet, Asian manufacturing slowdown returns to a 2020 low, led by a softer China
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Lori Ann Larocco | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The GEP Global Supply Chain Volatility Index, produced by S&P Global and GEP, tracks supply chain orders which show rising spare supplier capacity as a result of a pullback in global demand. As President Biden meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping in San Francisco, the Asian manufacturing sector is experiencing a slowdown not seen since the 2020 peak of the Covid pandemic. The GEP index shows a depressed level of demand for raw materials, components, and commodities since manufacturing orders are down. A negative meeting would signal that firms may need to act faster to get in front of an evolving and changing U.S.-China relationship by adjusting their supply chain strategies." The NRF continues to call on the Biden Administration to restart a dialogue with China about the tariffs and ultimately remove them.

Persons: Biden, Xi Jinping, John Piatek, Piatek, Xi, Jon Gold Organizations: P, GEP's, International Monetary Fund, CNBC, Chain Survey, GEP, U.S, Biden, China, National Retail Federation, Biden Administration Locations: U.S, San Francisco, China, North America

Retail sales fell 0.1% last month after jumping a strong 0.9% in September, according to a report released Wednesday by the Commerce Department. Excluding sales of gas and autos, retail sales ticked up 0.1%. “The October retail sales report was stronger than expectations, but confirmed a slowdown in consumption,” Ellen Zentner, chief U.S. economist at Morgan Stanley, wrote in a note to clients. Restaurants and bars reported a 0.3% sales increase, though that was much lower than September's 1.6% gain. The government’s monthly retail sales report offers only a partial look at consumer spending; it doesn’t include many services, including health care, travel and hotel lodging.

Persons: “, ” Ellen Zentner, Morgan Stanley Organizations: Commerce Department, Consumer, Walmart, Target, Federal Reserve, National Retail Federation Locations: U.S, Europe, United States

Buy With Prime, which launched in 2022, gives retailers who are not Amazon merchants fulfillment and delivery through its logistics network. Its newest features aim to pull in fee revenue from shops outside of Amazon.com during the peak holiday season. Along with speedy deliveries, Prime shoppers can now return items purchased through Buy With Prime outside of Amazon.com without shipping labels and boxes. Amazon also announced that Prime customers who buy from Buy With Prime merchants can now see their order history on their apps and have 24-hour access to customer service representatives. Amazon last week launched a Shopify app for Buy With Prime, giving the Canadian e-commerce giant's 2 million merchants access to Amazon's 175 million Prime members.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Peter Larsen, Arriana McLymore, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, Amazon.com, National Retail Federation, Amazon, Thomson Locations: Staten Island , New York, U.S, New York City

☆ Holiday Hiring Demand Drops Off, a Warning for the Job Market
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Austen Hufford | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Seasonal workers hired this year will fall as much as 40% from a recent high in 2021, the National Retail Federation estimates. Photo: Erik Verduzco/Associated PressBusinesses need fewer extra workers for holiday jobs this fall after fighting in recent years to find enough staff to stock shelves, fill boxes and deliver packages during the year-end rush. That could be a warning of a weakening labor market, which is already showing signs of cooling.

Persons: Erik Verduzco Organizations: National Retail Federation, Associated Press

☆ Consumer spending fell in October, according to new CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor tracking card transactions
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Steve Liesman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

watch nowThe consumer took a spending break ahead of the holiday season, with October retail sales, excluding autos and gas, falling by 0.08%, and core retail, which also removes restaurants, declining by 0.03%, according to the new CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor. The new Retail Monitor, debuting Monday, is a joint product of CNBC and the National Retail Federation based on data from Affinity Solutions, a leading consumer purchase insights company. The data differs from the Census Bureau's retail sales report as it is the result of actual consumer purchases, while the Census relies on survey data. The government data is frequently revised as additional survey data becomes available. The CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor is not revised as it's calculated from actual transactions during the month.

Persons: Matthew Shay, Dan Colarusso Organizations: CNBC, NRF, Retail Monitor, National Retail Federation, Affinity Solutions, Affinity, Business

☆ Retail sales and the economy: New data tracks strength of consumer
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailRetail sales and the economy: New data tracks strength of consumerCNBC's Steve Liesman reports on a joint project between CNBC, the National Retail Federation and Affinity Solutions to track consumer activity.

Persons: Steve Liesman Organizations: CNBC, National Retail Federation, Affinity Solutions

☆ Walmart, Target earnings to offer clues on crucial holiday season
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Siddharth Cavale | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

But rising credit card debt, depleted pandemic-era savings, and higher interest rates are giving investors pause, betting that retail bellwethers like Walmart and Target will have too much merchandise and be forced to discount during the holiday season. Walmart's decision so far to not hire seasonal holiday workers is a telling sign, Walmart investor Sizemore Capital Management told Reuters. The National Retail Federation predicts U.S. holiday sales in 2023 to rise at the slowest pace in five years. But Walmart and Target began offering some holiday discounts as early as October. "I don't see" food price inflation crowding out sales of more discretionary goods as "as big of an issue this holiday season as last holiday season," D.A.

Persons: they're, Charles Sizemore, Brian Cornell, " Sizemore, TD Cowen, D.A, Davidson, Rubbermaid, Helen of Troy, Target, Scott, Michael Baker, Siddharth Cavale, Nick Zieminski Organizations: Walmart, Target, U.S, Capital Management, Reuters, National Retail Federation, Newell Brands, Hydro, Thomson Locations: New York

☆ Right Now Is a Bad Time to Spend Money
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Oyin Adedoyin | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The National Retail Federation forecasts holiday spending will grow to as much as $966.6 billion this year. Photo: frederic j. brown/Agence France-Presse/Getty ImagesPrices remain high for much of what we buy, even as inflation has slowed. Stingily saving money, meanwhile, is a more profitable activity than it has been in recent memory. Since the Federal Reserve raised interest rates to a two-decade high, any dollar spent today is a lost opportunity to earn as much as 5% or more in savings accounts, certificates of deposit and bonds. High rates also make it significantly more expensive for people to spend money they don’t have, with the annual interest rate on some credit cards pushing 30%.

Persons: frederic Organizations: National Retail Federation, France, Federal Reserve

☆ Right Now Is a Terrible Time to Spend Money
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Oyin Adedoyin | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Persons: frederic Organizations: National Retail Federation, France, Federal Reserve

Holiday retail sales are expected to increase between 3% and 4% in 2023, according to trade group the National Retail Federation. In 2022, sales jumped 5.3%, according to the NRF. Owner Kimberley Yurkiewicz said the store had strong sales in 2021 and 2022 and sales are up again so far this year. Instead of one customer spending $200, 10 customers are spending $20 each. Then she’ll restock with gift items that can sell not only during the holidays but in January and beyond.

Persons: ”, Max Rhodes, Rhodes, Barbie, Taylor Swift, Rick Haase, Owner Kimberley Yurkiewicz, “, ” Andy Wilkerson, Heather Haynie, ” Haynie, she’s, Sierra Wallis, ” Wallis, Wallis, won’t Organizations: Holiday, National Retail Federation, Owner, Blackhawk Locations: St, Paul, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Brooklyn , New York, Charlotte , North Carolina, Charlottesville, Va, Decatur , Ga

☆ Apple ticks lower after warning of dull holiday quarter
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( Aditya Soni | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Nov 3 (Reuters) - Apple shares on Friday pared losses that were driven by its forecast for a subdued holiday quarter after a U.S. jobs report bolstered hopes of a pause in interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve. The iPhone maker on Thursday forecast sales for the holiday quarter, usually its biggest, below Wall Street estimates, blaming weak demand for iPads and wearables. An Apple iPhone 12 is pictured in a mobile phone store in Nantes, France, Sept. 13, 2023. "We view management's flat sales guidance as proof the company cannot rely on iPhone sales to drive shares higher, as it has in the past," D.A. "In mainland China, we set a quarterly record for the September quarter for iPhone," Cook told Reuters.

Persons: Bernstein, Stephane Mahe, D.A, Davidson, Tom Forte, Tim Cook, Apple, Cook, Dan Ives, Aditya Soni, Shounak Dasgupta Organizations: Apple, Federal Reserve, U.S . National Retail Federation, Deloitte, REUTERS, Huawei, Reuters, Wedbush Securities, Thomson Locations: Nantes, France, China

☆ Apple tumbles after warning of dull holiday quarter
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Nov 3 (Reuters) - Apple fell 3% on Friday after it disappointed Wall Street with a forecast that indicated growth will stay subdued in the quarter where the holiday season usually drives its strongest sales. The iPhone maker on Thursday predicted quarterly sales that were below market estimates, blaming weak demand for iPads and wearables, especially in key market China. "We view management's flat sales guidance as proof the company cannot rely on iPhone sales to drive shares higher, as it has in the past," D.A. "In mainland China, we set a quarterly record for the September quarter for iPhone," Cook told Reuters. He was also positive on the outlook for the services business, whose strong growth in the September quarter had helped the company top quarterly revenue expectations.

Persons: Bernstein, D.A, Davidson, Tom Forte, Tim Cook, Apple, Cook, Dan Ives, Aditya Soni, Shounak Dasgupta Organizations: Apple, U.S . National Retail Federation, Deloitte, Huawei, Reuters, Wedbush Securities, Thomson Locations: China

☆ Deal-hungry shoppers will squeeze holiday sales growth to pre-pandemic levels, retail group says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Melissa Repko | In Melissa-Repko | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Over the past decade, holiday sales have grown roughly 5% year over year on average, according to the NRF. Elevated prices are driving the reported sales growth, too. NRF's holiday forecast is not adjusted for inflation, which means the actual sales gains may not be as large as they seem. Despite the NRF's expectations for sales growth, major retailers including Target and Macy's have tempered expectations for the holidays. In the year-ago holiday season, retail sales rose 5.3% compared with 2021 and reached $936.3 billion, according to the NRF.

Persons: Jack Kleinhenz, Matt Shay, Shay, Brian Cornell, they're, Prosper Organizations: National Retail Federation, Bureau, Labor, Target, Walmart, Home Depot

☆ Holiday Retail Sales Are Expected to Increase, but at a Slower Pace
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Jordyn Holman | More About Jordyn Holman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

The ContextHoliday retail sales are a closely watched measure of the health of the U.S. consumer and often the most lucrative time of the year for major retailers. The BackgroundThis year’s estimate of holiday sales growth is lower than in previous years. In 2022, holiday sales increased 5.3 percent from the year before to $936.3 billion. Average holiday sales growth from 2010 to 2019 (right before the pandemic) was 3.6 percent, the organization noted. What’s NextThis month, major retailers like Walmart, Target and Macy’s will report quarterly earnings and are expected to give their outlook on the fourth quarter.

Persons: ” Matthew Shay, ” Mr, Shay, Brian Cornell, “ They’re, Mr, Cornell, ” Organizations: Federal Reserve, Wall, Fed, National Retail Federation, Walmart, Target, CNBC

☆ Retailers predict a slower holiday shopping season
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —Retailers are projecting slower growth this holiday shopping season as inflation, higher borrowing costs, and the resumption of student loan repayments cause many consumers to pull back. The government reported that strong consumer spending drove the economy to a robust 4.9% annual growth rate in the July-September quarter. Consumer confidence dropped for the third consecutive month despite the booming economy. The resumption of student loan repayments last month after a three-year pause could also impact consumer spending. “Student loan repayments will diminish the already dwindling savings among younger households,” Moody’s said in a report this week.

Persons: Matthew Shay, ” Dana Peterson, “ Consumers, ”, ” Moody’s, ” Shay Organizations: New, New York CNN — Retailers, National Retail Federation, “, Consumer, Conference Board, Consumers Locations: New York, splurging

NEW YORK (AP) — The National Retail Federation, the nation’s largest retail trade group, expects holiday sales growth will slow to a range of 3% to 4%, compared with 5.4% growth of a year ago. For the holiday 2021 season, sales for the two-month period surged 12.7%. Analysts say that shoppers could become rattled if the Israel-Hamas war is not contained, particularly heading into the critical holiday season. Political Cartoons View All 1230 ImagesThe forecast from the retail trade group considers a variety of indicators including employment, wages, consumer confidence, disposable income, consumer credit, previous retail sales and weather. The consulting firm Deloitte expects holiday sales to jump between 3.5% and 4.6%.

Persons: It's, Craig Johnson, They’re, Kohl’s, It’s, ”, Christie Raymond, “ We’re, they’ve, they’re Organizations: National Retail Federation, Analysts, Federal, Federal Reserve, Fed, Mastercard SpendingPulse, Deloitte, Growth Partners, clogs Locations: Israel

☆ Spirit Halloween lives on, even when the holiday ends and stores close
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Drew Richardson | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

The facade of seasonal Halloween decor store Spirit Halloween at a shopping center in Dublin, California, on Aug. 23, 2018. Smith Collection | Archive Photos | Getty ImagesHalloween is over, and your local Spirit Halloween is about to become a ghost town. The retailer opened a record 1,506 stores this season, up more than 50 stores from 2022, Spirit Halloween told CNBC. These become opportunities for Spirit Halloween, then, as the company pays to use the abandoned space for the Halloween season. Drew Richardson | CNBC"We have built great relationships with our real estate partners over the years," a representative for Spirit Halloween told CNBC.

Persons: it'll, Steven Silverstein, Silverstein, Drew Richardson, Maria, Jane, Neil Saunders, Saunders, Lana, I'm Organizations: Spirit, Spencer Spirit Holdings, Halloween, CNBC, Rite, CVS, Harmon, CVS Pharmacy, National Retail Federation Locations: Dublin , California, It's, New York, Manhattan's, New York City, New, Brooklyn Heights, Russia

☆ [WATCH NOW] How to drive growth with seamless omnichannel payments
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Sponsor Post | Created Insider Studios With Paypal | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

At the recent event, "How Enterprise Merchants Can Leverage Seamless Omnichannel Payments to Drive Growth," experts shared insights on how to maximize customer conversions. Watch now and find out how to embed a seamless omnichannel experience into your customer engagement strategy. Omnichannel payments are vital to merchant growthOmnichannel can only deliver a seamless customer experience with a strong payment infrastructure behind it. Today's customers want a seamless omnichannel experience, and if your business can't offer that, they'll find one that can. Watch the video below to learn how adopting omnichannel payments can help your business drive greater growth.

Persons: Julie Fergerson, Fergerson, they're, Cindy Turner, Adam Kronengold, Vince Camuto, Eddie Bauer, Kronengold, Turner Organizations: Merchant Risk Council, PayPal, National Retail, Retail, Authentic Brands, Insider Studios Locations: National Retail Federation's, PayPal Braintree, Braintree

☆ Morning Bid: Fed, financing and jobs greet November
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Despite the U.S. Treasury forecasting a lower fourth-quarter borrowing need than previously flagged, the tension in the bond market remains ahead of its detailed future refinancing plans due later on Wednesday. With the Federal Reserve widely expected to hold policy rates steady again on Wednesday, the Treasury plans may end up getting more bond market attention. But U.S. consumer confidence has softened, oil prices are falling again and the overseas demand picture is weakening. Another heavy day of U.S. corporate earnings is topped by big insurers and the likes of PayPal and Kraft Heinz. On Tuesday, shares in heavy-machinery maker Caterpillar (CAT.N) sank almost 7% as signs of slowing demand overshadowed a quarterly earnings beat.

Persons: Mike Dolan, Masato Kanda, it's, Japan's, China Evergrande, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Kraft Heinz, Estee Lauder, Kraft, Ingersoll Rand, Nick Macfie Organizations: Wednesday's, Bank of Japan, Japan's Nikkei, Japan, U.S, U.S . Treasury, Federal Reserve, Treasury, HK, White House, Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation, Wall, PayPal, Kraft, Caterpillar, Edison, AIG, Prudential Financial, MetLife, Qualcomm, Mckesson, Kraft Heinz, Allstate, Congnizant, Boston Properties, Water, Garmin, CVS, Brands, Humana, Reuters Graphics Reuters, US National Retail Federation, Thomson, Reuters Locations: U.S, United States, China, Hong Kong, San Francisco, Tokyo, Marathon, Boston

☆ Crime spree? Retailers are actually overstating the extent of theft, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

But some retail analysts and researchers, bolstered by local crime statistics, say stores may be over-stating the extent and impact of theft. Mentions of “organized retail crime” on companies’ earnings calls increased 43% from January through August from a year ago, the Chamber of Commerce found. Cities and states are passing new laws with harsher punishments for organized retail crime offenses and shoplifting. A Target spokesperson said that organized retail crime increased 50% in its stores since 2021. According to the Chamber of Commerce, 12 states have created new statutes, revised existing statutes, or created enhanced penalties for organized retail crime.

Persons: William Blair, Dylan Carden, Phillip Blee, James Kehoe, Kehoe, Alex Vitale, ”, Donald Trump, Judd Legum, Blair, “, Pew Organizations: New, New York CNN — Retailers, Retailers, “, National Retail Federation, Walgreens, Brooklyn College, Commerce, U.S . Chamber of Commerce, Republican, Costco, Chamber of Commerce, Pew Locations: New York, U.S, San Francisco, Oakland, Seattle, Portland

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