July 24, 2025

  • U.S. consumers frequently engage in retail therapy in order to improve their mood, with 47% saying as much, per a LendingTree survey. An even higher percentage, 54%, believe retail therapy can act as a form of self care (via Chain Store Age).
  • The American Automotive Policy Council, which represents the “Big Three” American automakers in General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis, has stated objections to President Trump’s tariff agreement with Japan. Representatives for the council claim the agreement offers Japanese imports an unfair advantage (via CNN Business).
  • Hasbro and Mattel both reported falling toy sales during the second quarter, attributed to delayed orders from retailers concerned over potential price increases. Regardless, both companies also stated that they were well-positioned in the face of ongoing tariffs (via Forbes).
  • Tesla share prices tumbled in morning trading July 24 following a troubling Q2 report. The automaker reported adjusted net income of $1.4 billion, a YoY 23% drop, representing a fall of $419 million (via CNN Business).
  • Tractor Supply reported strong Q2 results, including a 4.5% increase in net store sales to $4.44 billion, up from $4.25 billion. Net income improved by 1.1% to $430 million (via Chain Store Age).
  • Walmart executives signaled that traditional search bars could become obsolete in the face of AI-driven multimodal interfaces offered by its new Sparky tool. The stated goal is to reduce, or even eliminate, the need for customers to search at all (via Forbes).
  • McDonald’s may have shuttered its CosMc’s concept, but the brand lives on in some fashion via news that the fast-food chain plans to test new coffee drinks, refreshers, and flavored sodas in 500 restaurants. Said restaurants will largely be located in Colorado, Wisconsin, and surrounding areas (via CNBC).
  • Nestle CEO Laurent Freixe said he was “satisfied” with sweeping price hikes implemented earlier this year, but also that the company “might need a little bit more” pricing action in the future. Freixe called the current situation wherein two of the company’s major commodities have reached historical highs an “unprecedented scenario” (via CNBC).
  • Amazon has acquired startup AI wearables company Bee. Bee CEO Maria de Lourdes Zollo said of the acquisition that the company aims to “bring truly personal, agentic AI to even more customers” (via The Verge).
  • Albertsons has named Brian Monahan to helm its retail media wing, Albertsons Media Collective. Monahan previously served as global client president and head of retail media solutions at Dentsu International, and also spent three years as VP of marketing for Walmart.com (via Chain Store Age).