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Walmart's chief executive says the retailer will not raise prices for individual customers based on their shopping histories, addressing concerns about the electronic shelf labels it has been rolling out in stores. The pledge is meant to reassure shoppers that the digital price tags will not enable personalized or surveillance-style pricing, even as other retailers experiment with dynamic pricing.

The Kremlin has moved to take control of the Russian operations of German retail giant Metro, which owns a chain of stores across the country. The transfer marks a new step in Russia's widening seizure of foreign corporate assets since the invasion of Ukraine, raising fresh concerns among Western companies still operating in or exposed to the Russian market.

Walmart has pledged that it will not adjust product prices based on shoppers' personal information or the time of day. In a letter to customers, CEO John Furner said the company's rollout of digital shelf labels is intended to save store labor and speed up price updates, not enable surveillance-based pricing. The statement follows Wall Street Journal reporting raising concerns that electronic labels could allow retailers to charge different customers different prices.

Shopify has opened its checkout system to browser-based AI agents, according to TechCrunch. The move means autonomous shopping assistants could complete purchases on merchants' stores on behalf of users, rather than only browsing. It signals a shift in e-commerce toward agentic commerce, where software agents search, select and pay for goods directly, raising questions about merchant control, fraud prevention and how retailers adapt to agent-driven traffic.

US immigration authorities are making an increasing number of arrests outside big-box stores and supermarkets in Oregon, according to local reporting from OregonLive. The trend has drawn attention from residents and immigrant advocates concerned about enforcement activity near everyday shopping locations. Details on the scale of the operations and which communities are most affected remain limited.

A major American women's clothing retailer known for affordable fashion is closing 120 stores. The announcement, reported by regional US outlets, adds to a string of store closures across the apparel sector as chains grapple with shifting shopping habits and rising costs. Shoppers are discussing which locations will be affected and what the closures mean for the brand's future.

Major retailers are reversing course on self-checkout, scaling back or removing the machines from stores. The shift follows widespread shopper frustration with malfunctioning scanners, constant staff interventions, accusations of theft, and research suggesting the kiosks drive up losses without clear cost savings. Social media users have long complained about the checkout experience, and those discussions are now being cited as evidence of why chains like Walmart, Target and Dollar General are rethinking the technology.

Consultancy Bain & Company says artificial intelligence is reshaping retail in ways that will push underperforming stores out of the market. The firm argues retailers that fail to adopt AI-driven operations, pricing and customer insights risk losing ground to more efficient competitors, accelerating store closures across the sector.

Walmart says it does not use customers' personal information to set prices, pushing back on privacy concerns as it rolls out digital shelf labels across more of its US stores. The retailer says the electronic tags allow faster price updates and clearer labelling, but the expansion has raised questions about whether dynamic, personalised pricing could follow. Walmart maintains prices will not vary based on individual shopper data.

Reports say major beauty retailers Mecca and Sephora are being outpaced by online marketplaces in the global beauty market. Coverage across finance outlets suggests marketplace platforms are growing faster than traditional beauty chains, reshaping where shoppers buy cosmetics and skincare. Industry watchers are weighing what the shift means for brick-and-mortar beauty retail and store-based brands.

A supermarket has opened a pub as a workaround for liquor laws, a move that has apparently proven so successful at drawing crowds that the store now employs bouncers to manage the door. The Wall Street Journal reports on the unusual arrangement, highlighting how retailers are finding creative paths around restrictions on alcohol sales.

A fast-spreading retail theft scheme is hitting major US chains, including Walmart, Target, and CVS, according to a report by TheStreet. Details of how the scam operates or which locations are most affected were not provided. Shoppers and retailers are being urged to stay alert as losses from organised retail crime continue to climb across the sector.

Immigration arrests are increasing outside big-box stores and supermarkets in Oregon, according to local reporting from the Rogue Valley Times. The pattern suggests federal enforcement activity is concentrating at retail locations where day laborers and workers gather. Community members and advocates are likely watching the trend closely amid ongoing debate over immigration enforcement practices in the region.

Major US grocers Walmart, Aldi and Kroger are moving in the same direction as Costco on a retail policy, according to a report from TheStreet. The story suggests the country's biggest supermarket chains are converging on a strategy pioneered by the warehouse club, prompting shoppers to discuss what the change could mean for prices and the in-store experience.

Chinese AI firm SenseTime has launched SenseMart OS, an operating system designed to bring embodied intelligence into retail environments. The system is aimed at powering robots and smart devices that can perceive, interact with, and assist customers in stores. Details about pricing, availability, and retail partners have not yet been widely reported.

Australian retailers, including some of the country's most established and popular store chains, are feeling the strain of the ongoing consumer spending squeeze, according to ABC News business coverage. With households cutting back amid high interest rates and cost of living pressures, discretionary retailers are among the hardest hit, raising concerns about store closures and job losses across the sector.

Investor Grant Cardone says commercial real estate is heading for a historic crash, citing stress in the sector. He argues Bitcoin should serve as a complementary asset alongside real estate holdings rather than a replacement. His comments are drawing attention among investors weighing exposure to office and retail property against crypto.

Burglars targeted the Coolblue store in Groningen with a black Audi in a ram raid, but left without taking any loot, according to regional newspaper DVHN. Police are investigating the attempted break-in. Details about suspects or possible injuries have not been released. The incident has drawn local attention in the northern Netherlands.

Sellers across the European Union will have to display guarantee notices both in physical shops and online within a seven-day deadline, under new EU requirements. The rule obliges retailers to inform consumers clearly about their legal warranty rights at the point of sale, whether in-store or on e-commerce platforms. Consumer groups are expected to welcome the move, while sellers face quick compliance work.

Colorado regulators have issued a recall of marijuana vape products sold by a cannabis company at more than 400 stores across the state. Consumers are being urged to stop using the affected products. The news, reported by CBS News, is drawing attention as it raises fresh concerns about safety oversight in the state's large legal marijuana market.

Discount retailer TJ Maxx has closed five stores across several US states, drawing attention from shoppers and local media. Reports from outlets including TheStreet note the closures, prompting questions from customers about whether more locations could follow as the retail sector continues to adjust its store footprints.

Meta has opened its first retail store in Texas at the Galleria shopping center in Houston. The store lets visitors try the company's hardware products and get hands-on demonstrations. The opening marks an expansion of Meta's physical retail presence in the state, and local coverage in Houston is highlighting the arrival of the tech giant's storefront in the city's premier shopping destination.

French retail group Auchan has finished a full overhaul of its supermarket network across France, according to ESM Magazine. The revamp is one of several supermarket stories drawing attention this week, alongside a US grocery store whose unusual experiment is reportedly attracting visitors flying in from other states. The stories come amid ongoing interest in how grocers are adapting store formats and services.

A fashion retailer founded 17 years ago is shutting down all of its stores, according to a report by TheStreet. The closure marks the end of a young brand that had built its business around physical retail locations. Details on the number of stores affected, the reasons behind the decision, and the impact on employees have not yet been disclosed.

Amazon's Prime Day is approaching, and other retailers are moving early with discounts of up to 75% to capture shoppers' attention before the event begins. The early sales highlight how fiercely the mid-July shopping period is now contested, with stores hoping to win over bargain hunters before Amazon's own deals go live.