COGNICURRENT

The iconic British fashion retailer Quiz has gone into administration, leading to significant job losses and drastic sales strategies to clear existing stock.

The popularity of funnel-neck jackets has surged, with sales increasing by 1,000% year-on-year at John Lewis, highlighting their appeal among shoppers.

Matalan announces the closure of two stores in Colne and Carlisle, effective March 7, along with a massive 50% sale on all products.

In January, Latvia experienced a 6.1% increase in retail turnover, driven significantly by a surge in sales of cultural and leisure goods.

A 37-year-old man was arrested in Boa Vista after attempting to steal a perfume while distracting a sales assistant.

The Piraios Chamber of Commerce and Industry reported a disappointing outcome for winter sales in Greece, as inflation levels exceeded initial expectations despite a promising festive shopping period.

Retailers in Munich are frustrated with planned strikes in public transport that will affect sales during the busiest shopping days of the week.

The Swedish retail industry is pushing for legislation to enforce an age limit on the purchase of energy drinks, following concerns that current voluntary agreements are ineffective in preventing underage sales.

Woolworths has reported a significant rise in net profit for the first half of the financial year, with shares surging as food sales exceeded expectations.

Retail sales in Poland in January 2025 surpassed economists' expectations, driven by significant increases in furniture and electronics sales.

Retail sales in Poland grew more than expected in January 2025, reflecting strong consumer confidence and spending.

Clean Monday has transformed from a religious observance into a lucrative seasonal cycle for the retail food industry and dining establishments in Greece.

Sales of an Ikea teddy bear have skyrocketed internationally following a heartwarming story of a baby macaque named Punch who has bonded with the toy after being rejected by its mother.

Supermarkets in São José dos Campos are displaying Easter chocolate eggs immediately after Carnival, marking a shift in retail strategy to start holiday sales earlier.

The Swedish discount store Jula opened its first location in Eastern and Southeastern Finland in Lappeenranta, attracting over 200 customers on its first day, reflecting a trend of cautious consumer spending on home improvements instead of new purchases.

Retail sales in Great Britain saw a significant rise of 1.8% in January, driven by sales of art, antiques, and online jewelry, marking the highest increase since May 2024.

The UK government has reported a record budget surplus for January 2026, with a surplus of £30.4 billion attributed to increased tax revenue and lower interest rates.

Despite rising prices, the demand for meat and dairy products in Poland remains robust, with significant sales growth recorded over the past year.

Amazon has overtaken Walmart to become the largest company in the world by revenue, achieving $716.9 billion in sales in 2025 compared to Walmart's $713.2 billion.

Amazon has officially surpassed Walmart as the world's largest company by sales, driven by the growth of its tech subsidiary AWS.

Approximately 20,000 customers of Askon and Sotka have not received their orders following the bankruptcy of Indoor Group, but most stores have reopened safely under supervision as liquidation sales commence.

The European Union has launched a formal investigation into Shein, a Chinese online retailer, over illegal product sales and concerns about addictive site design.

Carrefour is experiencing declining sales in Poland and closing stores as it struggles to compete in a challenging market.

Retailers in Slovakia report declining consumer spending amid rising costs, with many people opting for discounted products as stores face significant challenges.

An investigation is being conducted into Shein regarding issues of substance abuse and the sale of products linked to violence against children.

This year's Valentine's Day saw less activity in flower shops in Estonia compared to previous years due to cold weather, though sales remained steady.

An individual explores the prices and quality of screen protectors offered by various shops, revealing inconsistencies and a lack of trust from the sales staff in their own products.

Brazil's retail sales grew by 1.6% in 2025 but showed significant slowdown compared to the previous year, with December witnessing the most considerable drop due to early Christmas shopping.

Bankruptcy clearance sales have begun at Askos and Sotkas stores in Finland, with varying openings across locations.

S-Group reported a 1.5% increase in retail sales to €14.5 billion, attributing this growth to strong market activity even amidst consumer caution and economic uncertainty.

Atria's revenue grew to nearly 477 million euros in the last quarter, alongside a significant rise in adjusted operating profit, attributed to strong retail sales and the start of chicken exports to China.

American consumer spending shows signs of deceleration after years of steady growth, influenced by factors like inflation and geopolitical crises.

Gold and silver prices increased following a drop in US Treasury yields after retail sales data indicated a slowdown in the economy.

The Japanese yen appreciated against the dollar, reaching a temporary rate of 154 yen per dollar due to disappointing U.S. retail sales figures.

Wall Street faced pressure today as investors reacted to weaker-than-expected retail sales data and concerns about the impact of artificial intelligence on the financial sector.

Major New York stock indices show modest gains as traders monitor upcoming employment data and digest recent below-expectations retail sales figures in the US.

A record store in Kuopio, Finland, has expanded significantly by offering over 10,000 movies for sale, reflecting a growing trend in movie sales alongside vinyl and CDs.

Eddie Bauer is set to start liquidation sales as it prepares to close its Canadian stores following bankruptcy filings in the U.S. and plans for additional filings in Canada.

Executives forecast a 1.3% increase in supermarket sales value in the first half of 2026, with a stable sales volume expected compared to the same period in 2025.

Liverpool is expected to have special offers and promotions for Valentine's Day, encouraging consumers to shop for gifts at more affordable prices amid rising costs.

Estonia's largest cucumber producer, Grüne Fee, is expanding its production capacity by one third due to increased demand and declining sales of domestic cucumbers in retail.

The Finnish retail industry anticipates cautious sales growth, but job losses continue to be a pressing issue.

Retail sales and revenue have been increasing since September, although employment in the sector continues to decline, according to the Finnish Commerce Federation.

The retail sector in Finland is experiencing a growth in sales and turnover despite a decrease in employment opportunities.

This article discusses the upcoming end of the winter sales in Greece and what consumers should look out for while shopping.

As the Year of the Horse approaches, Chinese consumers are prioritizing emotional satisfaction over brand prestige, leading to a surge in sales of playful toys and pets items.

The retail chain Stockmann achieved a profitable result last year after many years of losses, while its subsidiary Lindex also saw a sales increase but a decrease in profit due to rising depreciation costs.

Selver's business director Kristjan Anderson noted that while 2025 started with optimistic expectations, the sales trends at the year's end showed signs of a cooldown due to rising food prices and declining consumer purchasing power in Estonia.

The ongoing debate about clothing prices in Argentina highlights the significant transformation in clothing sales amidst increased competition and a more than 6% decline in demand, akin to levels seen during the pandemic.

Retail sales in December experienced the largest year-on-year drop in 13 years, leading to increased savings among consumers amid rising fatigue from consolidation measures and inflation.