US retail sector

Walmart and Target, the two largest US general merchandise retailers, are reportedly competing head-to-head in a key sector of their business. The specifics of which sector is at the center of this rivalry were not detailed, but the story highlights ongoing competition between the two chains as both fight for market share among American shoppers.

Real estate firm PlaceMKR has acquired a retail portfolio spanning multiple US states for $31.85 million, in a move the company describes as part of a broader expansion push. The deal adds retail assets to its holdings and signals continued investment in brick-and-mortar commercial property despite uncertainty in the retail sector.

US retail sales rose modestly in August, continuing an unbroken stretch of monthly gains, according to trade coverage by Furniture Today and Home Textiles Today. The steady, if unspectacular, growth suggests consumer spending remains resilient heading into the fall, with home-related retail among the sectors tracking the trend.