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UK retail sales pick up in January
UK total retail sales rose by 2.7% in January, according to the BRC, surpassing the 12-month average of 2.3%. Post-Christmas discounts boosted spending on both food and in-store items
Amazon posts strong 2025 as it steps up AI spending
The Seattle-based e-commerce giant delivered robust fourth quarter and full year 2025 results, driven by double-digit revenue growth and accelerating AWS sales. For 2026, it plans to increase AI spending
Zalando plans to close its Erfurt logistics centre
Following its acquisition of About You, the German online retailer will streamline its European logistics network. This will include the closure of the Erfurt fulfilment centre by September 2026
UK retail sales fall in December as Christmas boost fails
BDO’s latest High Street Sales Tracker shows that discretionary retail sales fell by 1.4% year-on-year in December, representing the weakest monthly performance since November 2024
Retail Flash: insights from key footwear markets
Explore the main retail dynamics across France, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, the UK, the US and Spain based on our latest Retail Flash reports, highlighting that e-commerce expansion and import pressures continue to reshape retail across Europe, while stronger sales growth occurs in Japan and in the US
EU to apply a 3-euro customs duty to e-commerce parcels under 150 euros
A 3-euro customs duty is to be introduced on low-value parcels arriving in the European Union. This move is part of a strategy to reduce the influx of cheap e-commerce imports, such as those sold by online retailers Shein and Temu
US: Thanksgiving Weekend attracts a record 203 million shoppers
According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), 202.9 million consumers shopped over the Thanksgiving-Cyber Monday weekend, up from 197 million last year and surpassing the record of 200.4 million set in 2023
Japan Retail: fashion shows strength amid rising cost pressures
The Japanese fashion retail sector is enjoying a standout year, with apparel and footwear sales surging to record highs, despite early signs of cooling demand. Strong Chinese tourist spending has helped to boost results, although geopolitical tensions pose risks for the future. Meanwhile, e-commerce continues to grow much faster than physical retail. Inflation is now converging across categories, with footwear prices rising in line with general inflation. However, the weakening yen is pushing up import costs, leaving retailers reliant on steady consumer demand to absorb rising costs
UK Retail: fashion rebounds despite pressure on footwear spending
Since May, the UK’s textile, clothing, and footwear (TCF) sector has regained momentum, outperforming the total retail sector and benefiting from increased online demand. But this rebound masks underlying weaknesses in the footwear sector: consumer spending remains low amid persistent price deflation, and imports have fluctuated significantly as retailers adjust stock levels in response to volatile demand. With inflation still above the target rate and the Budget looming, the retail sector has entered the Golden Quarter with improved sales but constrained by economic uncertainty and cautious consumer behaviour
French retail groups move to sue fast-fashion giant Shein
A dozen French retail federations and several major brands have launched an “unprecedented” legal action against Shein for unfair competition, citing non-compliance with regulations
Zalando reports strong third quarter boosted by About You acquisition
The online fashion retailer has reported another strong quarterly performance, boosted by the acquisition of About You. Zalando also announced a strategic partnership with the German Football Federation
Spain Retail: all hopes are pinned on the final quarter
The Spanish fashion retail sector is experiencing contradictory cycles. Sales for physical textile and footwear retailers plummeted by 1.8% in the first eight months of 2025, exacerbated by an unusual deflationary environment. E-commerce retail, however, seems to be in a league of its own. Despite negative trends, retailers appear to be betting on a recovery, as evidenced by a 5.4% surge in fashion imports up to August, as well as an unusual peak in shoe imports in July. This suggests that retailers are now focusing on the final quarter of the year, hoping for a return of consumer spending at key events such as Black Friday and Christmas
New CFO at Zalando
The Germany-based online fashion retailer has appointed Anna Dimitrova as Chief Financial Officer. She will succeed David Schröder, who has served as interim CFO since March
Amazon reports strong third quarter and separately confirms 14,000 job cuts
In two separate announcements, Amazon revealed strong third quarter results and confirmed its intention to cut 14,000 jobs worldwide. The company did not link the layoffs to its financial performance-
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