Most people have sent a friend to pick up an order. The store rarely cares who walks in, as long as the bill clears. Online retail just split over whether software gets the same courtesy. Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN) began blocking the Muse AI agent from Meta Platforms Inc. (META) on Sunday night, Sept. 20, 2026,
Americans are drinking less alcohol. “2025 marked another challenging year for the U.S. Beverage Alcohol industry, with total off-premise dollar sales declining 3.4% to $110 billion, driven by broad-based volume softness across Beer, Wine, and Spirits. While inflationary pressures eased versus prior years, consumers remained highly value-conscious, moderating consumption and prioritizing fewer but more intentional
Costco has built one of retail’s most distinctive businesses by giving shoppers a reason to walk through its warehouse doors. Now, the retail giant is giving members a reason to stay home. Costco and Uber recently expanded their Uber Eats partnership, offering delivery from nearly 600 Costco locations across 47 states, up from 17 states
Increased business expenses, such as the rising costs of rent, labor, and food products, have become a huge financial burden for restaurant owners. As restaurants pass the increased costs on to their customers with higher menu prices, consumers are becoming reluctant to spend money on dining out, which reduces potential business revenue. “High-wage states/markets are
We may be only a few days into autumn, but Walmart, like many other retailers, already has its eyes on the holidays. In a recent presentation at Goldman Sachs Global Consumer and Retail Conference, David Guggina, President and CEO of Walmart U.S., said the chain has already been working on its seasonal lineup. Value-conscious shoppers,
In the early 1980s, while I grew up in a reasonably wealthy household, sneakers were something you purchased either at the beginning of the school year or when you wore out or outgrew your current pair. The term “sneakerhead” wasn’t common yet, and while some sneakers (probably not the ones I wore) were cooler than
Verizon is planning to discontinue a longtime phone service as wireless demand in the U.S. grows rapidly. Consumers are increasingly relying on wireless technology to power streaming services, artificial intelligence, wearables, and more. Americans used 159.3 trillion megabytes of data in 2025, according to a recent survey from CTIA, a 20% increase from the previous
Amazon is about to revolutionize the package delivery industry once again with its drone technology, just as it did nearly two decades ago with its same-day delivery service. Amazon introduced its “local express delivery option” across seven cities in October 2009. Today, Prime customers can have thousands of items delivered just hours after they’re ordered.
Two years after Walmart (WMT) closed all 51 of its standalone health centers, the retail giant is back with a more streamlined health plan. Instead of building new clinics, it is asking pharmacists already on its payroll to step out from behind the counter. On September 15, Walmart said it would launch a six-month pilot
Tariffs raised costs for some of America’s biggest retailers over the past year. That put pressure on companies to raise prices, negotiate with suppliers, or, in some cases, absorb more of the expense themselves. Consumers ultimately felt at least part of that pressure. Federal Reserve researchers found that tariff-related price increases occurred gradually through 2025