Apple Grabs 25% of China’s Market 📱

The National Retail Federation (NRF) expects 186.9 million consumers to shop between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday this year — a new record in the organization’s tracking history. The five-day stretch, which has become the retail industry’s most important demand window, is poised to surpass last year’s turnout of 183.4 million.

🛍️ D-Day: Black Friday remains the anchor of the holiday rush, with nearly 70% of consumers — about 130.4 million people — planning to shop on that day alone, according to NRF’s survey. Cyber Monday follows as the second-biggest draw, with roughly 40% of respondents (73.9 million) expected to shop online.

🎁 Raining Gifts: The survey shows clothing and accessories leading the gift list, with half of all consumers planning purchases in that category. Gift cards follow at 43%, and toys round out the top three at 32%. Gift card spending alone is expected to reach $29.1 billion, slightly up from $28.6 billion last year.

Walmart raised its sales and earnings outlook after reporting stronger-than-expected fiscal third-quarter results, with revenue climbing on the back of double-digit e-commerce growth and a growing customer base spanning all income groups.

Number Game: Walmart now expects full-year sales to grow 4.8% to 5.1%, up from its earlier forecast of 3.75% to 4.75%. It also raised its adjusted earnings outlook to $2.58–$2.63 per share, slightly higher than its previous $2.52–$2.62 range.

Growing Sales: Walmart’s U.S. same-store sales rose 4.5%, beating expectations for 4% growth, driven by a 1.8% increase in store traffic and a 2.7% gain in average ticket size.

Plan Change: Walmart also announced it will shift its stock listing from the New York Stock Exchange to the Nasdaq, with trading set to begin there on Dec. 9. The company will keep its existing ticker symbol, “WMT.”

U.S. states are moving aggressively to crack down on data-driven pricing practices as consumers face rising costs, even as the White House considers steps to limit state power over artificial intelligence rules.

Building on earlier antitrust efforts led by FTC Chair Lina Khan, lawmakers across the country are pushing bills to stop businesses from using algorithms and shared pricing tools that critics say distort markets and quietly push prices higher.

New York and California have already passed laws targeting algorithmic collusion in rental housing, and a new analysis shows 19 states are now weighing similar restrictions on third-party pricing software used by landlords. The momentum is bipartisan: some states want to limit the use of competitor data in rental pricing, while others—like Utah—are drafting legislation to give consumers greater control over the personal data companies use to set prices.

U.S. consumer sentiment fell in November to one of the lowest levels on record, as Americans grew gloomier about their personal finances and the broader economy. The University of Michigan’s final sentiment index slipped to 51 from 53.6 in October, with the current conditions gauge plunging 7.5 points to a record low of 51.1.

Inflation expectations have eased but remain uncomfortable. Consumers now expect prices to rise 4.5% over the next year, moderating for a third straight month, and see 3.4% annual inflation over the next 5–10 years, down from 3.9% in October.

Views on personal finances are now the worst since 2009, underscoring the persistent weight of cost-of-living pressures and softer income growth on households.

Apple’s iPhone 17 lineup has delivered a significant rebound in China, driving a 37% jump in monthly sales and pushing Apple’s market share to 25% in October — its highest since 2022, according to Counterpoint Research. All iPhone 17 models outperformed their iPhone 16 predecessors by double-digit margins, validating Tim Cook’s bet that Apple would return to growth in its most competitive market.

The strong launch helped lift China’s stagnant smartphone market to 8% growth after months of sluggish demand and ineffective government subsidies. More than 80% of Apple’s unit sales came from the new models, and rising average selling prices are expected to boost revenue further.

Rivals saw mixed results: Oppo posted 19% growth on the strength of its Find X9, while Huawei slipped 19% amid a pause in new releases.

Bath & Body Works will debut on Amazon early next year, aiming to capture demand currently flowing to gray-market sellers—an underground channel the company estimates at $60–$80 million in annual sales. The move is part of the retailer’s new “consumer first formula” strategy, which prioritizes discovery, digital reach, and meeting customers where they already shop.

The brand will begin with a small assortment of evergreen products to “test and learn,” build reviews, and regain control of its presence on the marketplace. CEO Daniel Heaf said the shift marks an offensive to reclaim ground ceded to competitors on Amazon and other wholesale channels.

The announcement came amid a tough Q3 earnings call. Net sales fell 1% to $1.6 billion, net income dropped 27%, and guidance was lowered as the company faces softer demand and persistent macro pressures.

With 2025 coming to a close, major U.S. retailers are urging Congress to finally pass the stalled Combating Organized Retail Crime Act, a bipartisan bill that would expand federal powers to target sophisticated theft rings.

Industry groups, including RILA and the NRF — along with several major chains — signed a letter pressing lawmakers to act, highlighting rising safety concerns, online fraud, cargo theft, and coordinated shoplifting crews.

After investigations revealed that prior NRF estimates overstated organized retail crime losses, lawmakers demanded better data, forcing industry groups to reframe their narrative around worker safety and cross-border criminal networks rather than pure financial shrinkage. Retailers now argue that ORC poses broader risks across stores, supply chains, and e-commerce.

Kroger’s move to shut three of the eight automated fulfillment centers built with Ocado signals growing doubts about the viability of Ocado’s robotics-heavy model in the U.S. market.

The retailer said the facilities failed to meet financial expectations and that consumer demand has shifted sharply toward same-day, often one-hour delivery — a speed that is easier to achieve through Instacart, DoorDash, and Uber Eats using store-based picking.

Ocado, once valued higher than Tesco during the pandemic boom, has seen its share price collapse as rapid-delivery platforms have outpaced it in scale, revenue, and market traction. Analysts say Ocado’s capital-intensive “robotic warehouses for dispersed suburbs” model is proving difficult to make profitable, working only in high-density, high-income cities

Ford has struck a deal with Amazon that will allow its U.S. franchised dealers to sell certified pre-owned vehicles directly through the e-commerce giant’s platform — the latest step in Amazon’s quiet expansion into online auto retail.

More than 160 of Ford’s 2,900 U.S. dealers have begun onboarding, with roughly a dozen already live and another 10 expected to launch in the coming week. The vehicles, sold under Ford’s three-tier CPO program, will come with varying warranty coverage and a 14-day or 1,000-mile money-back guarantee. Amazon Autos has initially rolled out Ford listings in Los Angeles, Seattle, and Dallas, with broader expansion planned.

The partnership marks Amazon’s second major tie-up with a global automaker, following its earlier program with Hyundai for new vehicles and a separate arrangement to sell Hertz’s used fleet.

Home Depot lowered its full-year profit forecast after missing quarterly earnings estimates for the third consecutive period, citing weaker-than-expected home improvement demand and softer consumer spending. Third-quarter adjusted EPS came in at $3.74, below analyst expectations, while revenue reached $41.35 billion. Comparable sales rose just 0.2%.

Big-ticket transactions rose modestly, but overall customer visits fell 1.6%. Home Depot warned that a lack of storm-related spending will continue to pressure fourth-quarter results. The company now expects full-year EPS to decline about 5% from last year.

Despite weaker trends, Home Depot highlighted growth from online sales, which rose 11%, and said pro-contractor spending remains a priority as DIY customers delay major projects.