July 3, 2025
- Nike and LEGO saw their first co-branded Nike Dunk x LEGO brick set sell out in a matter of minutes. The release is the first in what promises to be a multi-year partnership between the two companies (via Forbes).
- SHEIN has been slapped with a fine of €40 million by France’s antitrust agency due to allegations of deceptive business practices. A practice of issuing misleading discounts is cited as the primary motivation behind the fine (via Reuters).
- Lucid saw a 38% rise in second-quarter deliveries, moving 3,309 vehicles during Q2. However, this figure fell short of estimates projecting a delivery of 3,611 EVs (via CNBC).
- The U.S. economy added a greater-than-anticipated 147,000 jobs in June, although the public sector claimed most of these new positions. The unemployment rate also trended downward to 4.1% (via CNN).
- New York state is facing a lawsuit issued by the National Retail Federation over the jurisdiction’s Algorithmic Pricing Disclosure Act. The law requires retailers to inform customers when personal data is being used to set prices, but the NRF alleges that the law violates many members’ First Amendment rights (via Reuters).
- Bain Capital has partnered with franchise growth platform Sizzling Platter in hopes of further expansion. Sizzling Platter operates a number of QSR brands, including Little Caesars, Wingstop, Jersey Mike’s, Dunkin’, and Jamba (via Business Wire).
- Fatburger has slated plans to expand its footprint in Florida, with 40 additional locations planned out over the next decade (via Chain Store Age).
- Fourth of July cookouts could cost approximately 12.7% more this year on an annualized rate, according to the Joint Economic Committee’s Democratic minority arm. The cost increase was tallied via a hypothetical shopping trip serving a 10-person barbecue event (via CNBC).
- Houston is exhibiting strong and continuing retail demand despite a turbulent macroeconomic portrait. Data indicates a retail inventory occupancy rate of 95.5% as of mid-2025 (via Connect CRE).
- Fireworks retailers are reporting an increase in demand in advance of this Fourth of July. The holiday falling on a Friday this year, satisfied repeat customers, and larger basket spend were indicated as primary drivers of higher sales (via FOX Business).