Online shopping sees biggest slowdown in over decade as tariffs disrupt e-commerce: Survey

U.S. online retail experienced its most significant deceleration in over ten years amid escalating tariffs and shifting trade policies. Survey data reveals a sharp drop in e-commerce growth, driven by rising costs imposed on imports and ripple effects in shipping and returns. With consumers and businesses adapting to new pricing pressures, the sector may remain constrained in the months ahead.

CNBC

The Rise of Vendor Fraud in a World of AI and Trade Chaos

Vendor and payment fraud is escalating, fueled by global trade instability and the misuse of AI technologies. Experts urge organizations to move beyond surface-level safeguards by cross-training departments, integrating behavioral AI detection tools, and verifying vendor legitimacy. These strategies help build a more fraud-resilient foundation in an era of unpredictable disruption.

Security Magazine

Walmart Workers Vanish Overnight and Employees Sound the Alarm

A recent wave of unexplained employee disappearances at Walmart has raised red flags among remaining staff. Workers report unexpected no-shows and sudden departures with little communication from leadership, fueling speculation and concern. The situation highlights deeper issues around morale, workload, and company culture.

Man's Journal

The Impact of Emerging Technologies on Accurate Demand Forecasting

Emerging technologies like AI, machine learning, and IoT are revolutionizing demand forecasting in retail by delivering real-time insights and improving accuracy. These tools help retailers respond faster to market changes, reduce waste, and optimize inventory, ultimately boosting customer satisfaction and profitability. As traditional forecasting models fall short in today's dynamic retail environment, tech-driven solutions are becoming essential for staying competitive.

Retail Tech Insights

'Surveillance pricing' | Stores could be secretly charging you more than other shoppers

Some retailers are quietly experimenting with surveillance pricing, using AI and customer data to adjust prices in real time. Shoppers may unknowingly pay more than others based on behavior, device type, or perceived income level. The practice raises major ethical and transparency concerns as digital pricing becomes more personalized—and less predictable.

ABC 9 News

Your brand is under attack... from the sidewalk to the server. This APEX session goes beyond traditional protection to explore what it really takes to defend your reputation in a hyper-connected world.

Don’t wait for the fallout. Register now to secure your spot, sharpen your strategy, and stay one step ahead.

3 arrested, 3 others wanted for stealing $1 million of proceeds in 115 store burglaries

Police announced three suspects are in custody and three remain wanted for stealing over $1 million in proceeds while committing over 115 commercial burglaries in Lake County and surrounding areas.

The Chicago suburbs experienced a rash of more than 115 commercial burglaries that occurred during the overnight hours beginning in February 2024 and continuing through May 2025.

The Arlington Heights Police Department said the offenders in the cases arrived at their targeted locations in stolen vehicles or rental cars displaying stolen registration.

L&M County News

Retail's Digital Divide: Bankruptcy Trends Reveal Survival Strategies in a Post-Pandemic World

The retail landscape has undergone seismic shifts since the pandemic, with operating efficiency and digital transformation emerging as non-negotiable survival factors. Recent Chapter 7 bankruptcies—from apparel giants to discount retailers—paint a stark picture of legacy brands failing to adapt to e-commerce dominance, data-driven inventory management, and Gen Z-centric marketing.

Meanwhile, agile competitors are capitalizing on tech investments and supply chain resilience to thrive. This article examines the trends, contrasts failing models with winning strategies, and offers actionable insights for investors seeking undervalued gems in the retail sector.

AInvest

$6.5 Million in Stolen Goods Seized, Leads Organized Crime Crackdown

EG Citizen

Get Insights From Your Surveillance

Grow your business while AI-powered video surveillance analyzes critical operations for loss prevention and efficiency.

Flag Suspicious Activity

Automatically detect loitering, security breaches, unattended objects, and even camera tampering in real time to enhance security responses and investigations. 

Improve Customer Service

Make data-driven customer service decisions based on automatic heatmaps, dwell times and people counting, analyzing traffic patterns, frequented areas, and bottlenecks in service. 

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Track KPI performance and highlight operational inefficiencies by monitoring and analyzing inventory movement, store layouts, and employee behavior.

Gain actionable business intelligence with advanced video analytics across every area of your operation.

March Networks’ Searchlight Cloud platform combines crystal-clear surveillance with AI-powered analytics to deliver comprehensive monitoring, accurate people and vehicle detection, and enhanced visibility into high-risk zones.

Intrusion Detection
Helps prevent unauthorized access by triggering an alert when a person or vehicle enters a restricted zone.

Loitering Detection

Tripwire

Shoplifting suspect allegedly strikes officer while being detained

Police said they responded to Etta Avenue and Prichard Avenue on Tuesday, July 1 at 10:25 am in reference to a shoplifting.

Officers saw a man walking in the area with the shoplifted items and attempted to detain him. 

The suspect began resisting the officer before striking him, causing minor injuries, according to officials.

MPD said the suspect was then detained without further incident.

FOX10 News

AI-Tuned Pricing and Inventory Strategies are the Way Forward for Retailers

How does a retailer stay ahead of the dizzying number of factors that go into whether it can sell what it puts on the shelves at a profit? By harnessing the growing power of AI to not only sense demand at a very fine-grain, real-time level, but also to govern decisions about pricing and inventory.

So argues Greg Petro, CEO of First Insight, a retail platform that uses AI analysis of consumer feedback to predict demand, determine pricing thresholds and model scenarios around, for example, differing tariff levels or supply chain bottlenecks.

Supply Chain Brain

WRAP calls on retailers, brands and government to refocus their efforts on preventing food waste

WRAP says that the amount of household food waste has decreased by 9% between 2021 and 2022. It attributed this decline to the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions, which meant fewer meals were prepared at home, and increasing food prices in 2022.

However, while the figures demonstrate that it is possible to significantly reduce food waste, they also show that the industry is not currently on track to meet international targets.

RTIH

We’ve All Forgotten – But Kroger and Albertsons Haven’t

ISN Magazine

OSHA Releases Several Proposed Rules

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) this week released several proposed rules on the Federal Register.

The proposed rules appear to have a direct impact on long term care and include the following:  Federal Register: Occupational Exposure to COVID-19 in Healthcare Settings, Occupational Safety and Health Standards; Interpretation of the General Duty Clause: Limitation for Inherently Risky Professional Activities, and more.

AHC / NCAL