Retail Is Growing, Just Not for Everyone…
July leans positive, with sustained retail sales growth, IPO activity, store expansion, and healthier specialty categories. But grocery volumes, traditional supermarket share, closures, and layoffs show that the gains are concentrating among stronger operators.
Total At Checkout:
Recent headlines net sentiment
13 Positive
7 Negative
10 Neutral
KPIs:
- Spending stays uneven
- Retail growth persists
- Positive, not comfortable
Stay Tuned:
In the next edition of The Register
Oh no, is it really holiday season again already?
Special Edition: The Register Now in FreightWaves SONAR!
Did You See It?
Retail Data Analytics from Retlia is now trusted by supply chain, economic, and financial pros world wide in FreightWaves SONAR
“Retail is where freight demand actually starts, long before it shows up as a tender or booking,” said Nick Persin, Director of Strategic Partnerships at SONAR. “Pairing ‘The Register’ within SONAR gives our customers a way to see that signal early instead of reacting to it after the fact.”
13 Positive Headlines
Recent headlines indicating a strong retail market
National sales data still points to broad retail growth
- CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor Shows Ninth Month of Sales Growth in June (NRF) 7/13
- United States Retail Sales YoY (TE) 7/16
- Sales rise in June for ninth straight month amid sales events (CSA) 7/13
Top and specialty retailers keep producing resilient gains
- NRF Releases 2026 Top 100 Retailers (NRF) 7/1
- While specialty stores see growth, The Home Depot and Lowe’s still lead in home improvement (NRF) 7/22
Public markets still fund retail expansion bets
- Fashion retailer Reformation launches IPO; targets $1 billion valuation (CSA) 7/20
- Jersey Mike’s launches IPO, aims to raise up to $1.09 billion (CSA) 7/20
Retailers keep investing in capacity, convenience and stores
- American Eagle Outfitters to open DC in North Carolina (CSA) 7/28
- Rapid delivery cements itself as a ‘mainstream’ grocery option, report says (GD) 7/9
- IKEA to open first Oklahoma location at Tulsa Hills this fall (Journal Record) 7/31
Retailers keep investing in capacity and convenience
- LVMH Fashion Sales Rise 1% as Dior Turns Corner (BOF) 7/27
- Hasbro debuts Play-Doh for adults (RD) 7/9
- Independent Outdoor Specialty Retail Is Healthiest Since the Pandemic Surge, Grassroots Data Shows (SES Outdoor) 7/23
7 Negative Headlines
Recent headlines that may indicate retail weakness
Traditional grocery weakness is broadening
- 4 key takeaways about Albertsons’ performance (GD) 7/27
- Albertsons announces new operating model, president’s retirement after weak Q1 (GD) 7/23
- Grocery unit sales sink for five straight months (RB) 7/23
- Kroger and Albertsons continue to see their market share contract (GD) 7/28
- Shoppers are buying less meat, data shows (GD) 7/22
Closures and layoffs show corporate contraction
- Tractor Supply trims expansion; will close 75 Petsense stores (CSA) 7/23
- H&M to lay off 76 NYC-based corporate employees (RD) 7/23
10 Neutral Headlines
Recent headlines that are pretty so-so for the market
Consumers prioritize essentials and cheaper alternatives
- Back-to-school shoppers will prioritize essentials over apparel (RD) 7/29
- The K-shaped consumer looks different this time (NRF) 7/28
- Shopify shoppers are ditching smartphones for landlines this summer (RB) 7/1
Retail sales remain positive, but underwhelming
- US Retail Sales Slow as Expected (TE) 7/16
- Retail sales last month rose less than expected (CNN) 7/16
Brand turnarounds remain plausible, not proven
- Kering Sales Rise 2%, Gucci Beats Estimates (BOF) 7/28
- Vans needs a good back-to-school season more than ever (RD) 7/29
- Canadian mattress retailer to acquire Sleep Number for over $700M (RD) 7/21
Promotions and pricing strategies show activity, not confidence
- What grocers need to know about the pushback against dynamic pricing (GD) 7/30
- The Weekly Closeout: RadioShack eyes a comeback, Wayfair and QVC kick off the holidays (RD) 7/17
Get The Register
Alerts in your inbox with each new edition of The Register
Sources
Positive
- https://nrf.com/blog/2026-top-100-retailers
- https://chainstoreage.com/american-eagle-outfitters-open-dc-north-carolina
- https://chainstoreage.com/fashion-retailer-reformation-launches-ipo-targets-1-billion-valuation
- https://journalrecord.com/2026/07/31/ikea-first-oklahoma-store-opening-tulsa-hills-shopping-center/
- https://chainstoreage.com/jersey-mikes-launches-ipo-aims-raise-109-billion
- https://www.businessoffashion.com/articles/luxury/lvmh-fashion-sales-rise-1-with-dior-turnaround-in-focus/
- https://nrf.com/media-center/press-releases/nrf-releases-2026-top-100-retailers
- https://nrf.com/blog/2026-top-100-hardware-power-players
- https://tradingeconomics.com/united-states/retail-sales-annual
- https://www.retaildive.com/news/hasbro-adult-toys-blooms-by-play-doh/824812/
- https://shop-eat-surf-outdoor.com/news/independent-outdoor-specialty-retail-is-healthiest-since-the-pandemic-surge-grassroots-data-shows/621335/
- https://www.grocerydive.com/news/rapid-delivery-usage-grows-coresight-research/824773/
- https://chainstoreage.com/sales-rise-june-ninth-straight-month-amid-sales-events
Negative
- https://www.grocerydive.com/news/albertsons-operating-model-ecommerce-grocery-supermarkets/826199/
- https://www.grocerydive.com/news/albertsons-new-operating-model-president-retirement/825989/
- https://www.retailbrew.com/stories/grocery-unit-sales-sink-for-five-straight-months
- https://www.grocerydive.com/news/kroger-albertsons-grocery-market-share-contract-numerator/826197/
- https://chainstoreage.com/tractor-supply-trims-expansion-will-close-75-petsense-stores
- https://www.retaildive.com/news/hm-layoffs-nyc-corporate-employees/826015/
- https://www.grocerydive.com/news/meat-volume-june-2026-inflation-grocery-supermarkets/825887/
Neutral
- https://www.retaildive.com/news/back-to-school-shoppers-prioritize-essentials-apparel-sporting-goods/826456/
- https://www.businessoffashion.com/articles/luxury/kering-sales-rise-2-gucci-beats-estimates/
- https://nrf.com/blog/the-k-shaped-consumer-looks-different-this-time
- https://www.retaildive.com/news/vans-needs-strong-back-to-school-season-vf-corp/826444/
- https://www.grocerydive.com/news/dynamic-pricing-state-laws-ftc-grocery-supermarkets/826529/
- https://tradingeconomics.com/united-states/retail-sales/news/567551
- https://www.retaildive.com/news/sleep-country-canada-mattress-acquire-sleep-number-700-million-bankruptcy/825771/
- https://www.cnn.com/2026/07/16/economy/us-retail-sales-june
- https://www.retailbrew.com/stories/shopify-shoppers-are-ditching-smartphones-for-landlines-this-summer
- https://www.retaildive.com/news/radioshack-comeback-wayfair-qvc-christmas-in-july-lush-halloween/825487/