Most retailers won't report third quarter results and holiday expectations until right before Thanksgiving. By then, many consumers will have already been starting their holiday shopping. Courtney Reagan joins us right now with some insights as we are now exactly two months from Christmas Eve. And Courtney Re Courtney Joe was saying before, "Oh, that's too early. I've already started my Christmas shopping. " It's because you don't do any of the shopping. That's right. You don't You have >> That's why they c ...

Group 1 - Dillard's reported quarterly earnings of $8.31 per share, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 7.5%, surpassing analyst expectations [1] - The strong earnings performance of Dillard's is seen as a positive indicator ahead of major retail earnings reports [1] - The stock of Dillard's broke out past a buy area, indicating strong market interest [1] Group 2 - Kohl's received a Relative Strength Rating upgrade to 91, indicating improving technical performance [2][4] - Dillard's earned a Relative Strength Rating of 92, showcasing its market leadership [4] - Macy's chart improved following a Q2 earnings beat, with a key metric reaching a three-year high [4]

Pricing Trends in Apparel and Footwear - A third-party data source tracking e-commerce prices indicates a slight increase in apparel prices, but it's not a huge jump from previous trends [2][3][4] - The apparel industry has seen a mix shift into higher price point categories like work wear and tailored pants, contributing to gross margin highs [6][7] - Economists believe the full impact of tariffs hasn't been seen yet due to inventory timing, with potential one-time hits later on [8][9] - Apparel retailers typically hold three months of inventory, suggesting that the real pricing impact from tariffs will likely flow through P&Ls from November onwards [9][10] - Footwear businesses, often run as wholesale models, may see price increases more clearly in the first half of next year due to forward order books locked in for six months [11][12] Company-Specific Observations - Torrid and Anthropology (within Urban Outfitters) have shown the biggest price jumps since Liberation Day, potentially due to mix shift and strategic assortment changes [14][15] - On the footwear side, Hey Dude, Macy's, and Kohl's are showing more price increases compared to pre-liberation day levels, possibly due to a mix shift dynamic [16] - Department stores are trying to fortify themselves with popular and premium brands, actively adjusting their business model [17] Data Considerations - The pricing data factors in discounting and mix shift, but it's not possible to see exactly how these are factoring into the pricing [3] - The prices reflect the final selling price, taking into account discount codes and what shoppers actually paid [5]

Retail Industry Trends - Retail executives describe consumers as "resilient and choiceful," indicating a selective shopping behavior in a competitive market [2][7] - The industry anticipates shoppers will respond positively to bargains, suggesting a return to sales promotions [3] - Retailers are not significantly concerned about inventory levels, alleviating previous worries about product availability [2] Consumer Behavior - Consumers are expected to aggregate their spending around key shopping moments to capitalize on deals [2] - Kohl's anticipates shoppers will make an average of 15 store trips between November and January [2] - Consumers are trading down to lower-priced private label items instead of national brands [2] Retail Strategies - Retailers aim to simplify the shopping experience for consumers [1] - Retailers may adjust promotion durations or item selections to maintain profitability while meeting consumer demands [5] - Academy Sports CEO noted higher take rates on promotions compared to last year, indicating consumer responsiveness to deals [2][4]

Core Insights - Amazon plans to hire 250,000 workers across its U.S. fulfillment and delivery network for the holiday season, offering full-time, part-time, and seasonal roles with competitive wages [1][3] Company Summary - Amazon's average wage for regular employees is $23 per hour, while seasonal employees can earn over $19 per hour [1] - The company will invest over $1 billion into additional pay and benefits, raising the average total compensation to more than $30 per hour when including elected benefits [2] - Seasonal roles at Amazon are popular and often fill quickly, catering to diverse needs [3] - Flexible schedules are offered for seasonal roles, and full-time employees have access to benefits such as healthcare and education programs [5] Industry Context - Seasonal retail hiring is projected to decline to its lowest level since the recession of 2009, with retailers expected to add under 500,000 positions in the last three months of 2025, the smallest seasonal gain in 16 years [6][8] - Factors affecting seasonal hiring include tariffs, inflation, and a shift towards automation and permanent staff [9] - Other companies, such as Bath & Body Works and Spirit Halloween, are also making seasonal hiring announcements, but overall hiring sentiment appears cautious [12][13]

RT Matt Forney (@realmattforney)NEW: a former Kohl's employee details how he quit his job in protest of his Indian hiring manager's discriminatory, anti-American hiring practices.According to the whistleblower, his IIT-educated Indian hiring manager had an explicit policy of only hiring fellow Indians on H-1B visas. The whistleblower was the sole non-Indian on his team and was largely there to "prove" that the hiring manager was not engaging in illegal hiring discrimination.When the whistleblower brought up ...

Courtney Reagan joins us with a look at the choices retailers need to make and the prices that we all might pay for this holidays. Hopefully they're going to be lower. Court >> see kind of depends on what you get.I mean since April 2nd trade deals of course you know been negotiated with lower rates for some countries though India tariffs are higher than initially announced. China remains in flux and then other types of tariffs like on upholstered furniture for example those have also been levied. So, while ...

As we come back on the bell, take a look at shares of Kohl's jumping in today's session. Courtney Reagan is here with what is driving that big move today of near 23%. Hey Court.>> Hi Scott. Yeah, so Kohl's interim CEO Michael Bender told me that he's happy with what happened in the quarter. Better than expected, but there's still a long way to go for its turnaround.Comparable sales are still lower, but thanks to lower expenses, earnings did beat by a wide margin. And Kohl's also increasing its guidance for ...

Kohl’s Jumps on Outlook Boost in Sign of Consumer Resilience. Listen for more on Bloomberg Intelligence. https://t.co/y4oWrJWBsZ ...

Kohl’s Jumps on Outlook Boost in Sign of Consumer Resilience. Get the details on the Bloomberg Stock Movers report. https://t.co/JrKOCsqekn ...