Furniture retailer IKEA has announced plans to close seven stores in China from 2 February 2026. The locations scheduled for closure are IKEA Shanghai Baoshan, IKEA Guangzhou Panyu, and IKEA Tianjin Zhongbei, along with stores in Nantong, Xuzhou, Ningbo and Harbin. The company said the decision forms part of an optimisation exercise aimed at improving efficiency across its physical and digital channels. Customers affected by the closures will continue to be served through other IKEA stores in the same ...

Key Takeaways According to two different government measurements of prices, inflation in these sectors is still having an impact on the U.S. economy: Electricity and Utilities Electricity was up 6.9% year-over-year in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for November. It's one of a handful of energy products and services that have increased this year, with utility gas services, fuel oils and other motor fuels all growing faster than the overall annual inflation rate of 2.7%. Data centers that power artificial int ...

Core Viewpoint - The delay in tariff increases for upholstered furniture and related products is beneficial for RH, but the more significant factors are its strong free cash flow and ambitious international expansion plans [1][15]. Tariff Impact - The White House announced a delay in the planned increase of tariffs on upholstered furniture, kitchen cabinets, and vanities, maintaining the current 25% tariff [1][6]. - This delay alleviates some uncertainty for RH and other furniture companies, contributing to a rise in their stock prices [2][6]. - The volatile tariff environment has previously caused significant operational challenges for RH, including resource allocation issues and price negotiations [5][6]. Financial Performance - RH reported a 9% revenue growth in the most recent quarter, resulting in a third-quarter free cash flow of $83 million and a year-to-date total of $198 million [8]. - The company maintains a full-year free cash flow outlook of $250 million to $300 million, which is substantial given its market capitalization of $3.6 billion [8]. - Strong free cash flow indicates resilience in RH's business model, suggesting the company can manage its $2.4 billion net debt effectively [9]. International Expansion - RH has initiated international expansion with the opening of RH England in 2023 and plans to expand to Paris in 2025, positioning these locations as immersive brand experiences [11]. - The company aims to establish itself as a global brand through these international galleries, with additional openings planned in London and Milan in 2026 [11]. - Management has indicated that this expansion may temporarily impact operating margins by approximately 200 basis points due to associated costs [12]. Investment Considerations - RH's stock appears attractive at a valuation of 13 times the midpoint of its full-year 2025 free cash flow guidance [13]. - Investors should be aware of the company's debt levels and the unpredictable nature of the housing and furniture markets, which could affect sales [13][14].

Industry Overview - The furniture market is characterized as a discretionary and deferrable expense, making it sensitive to economic conditions and consumer confidence, which have declined in recent months [2] - Retailers are facing pressure to maintain prices due to increased costs from tariffs and other factors, which they must pass on to consumers [3] Company Specifics - Unclaimed Freight, a furniture retailer in Pennsylvania, is closing its last store and has begun a going-out-of-business sale, marking the end of its operations [4][5] - The Pennsylvania branch of Unclaimed Freight is distinct from a Midwest chain with the same name, which continues to operate normally [5] - The store's manager expressed gratitude to the local community for their support over the years, indicating a long-standing presence in the area [6][7]

Homebuyers have received some good news to start the new year, as mortgage rates have fallen from about 7.04% on Jan. 16, 2025, to about 6.15% on Jan. 2, 2026, according to Freddie Mac. House hunters might give it a little more time to see if the rate drops further before pulling the trigger on a purchase and a mortgage, but the declining rate is encouraging for the real estate market. Furniture sales declined An improving real estate market would be a welcome relief for the furniture industry, which s ...

ASX shares that are benefiting from strong tailwinds could be great buys for the long-term.When a long-term trend is providing a natural boost for revenue and earnings, it could help drive the share price of the business higher.There are some wonderful ASX share ideas out there. Below are two of my favourites:Betashares Global Cybersecurity ETF (ASX: HACK)Some exchange-traded funds (ETFs) give investors the ability to tap into some wonderful themes. As the world becomes steadily more digital, cybersecurity ...

When people fear losing their jobs while struggling to pay everyday bills, they probably don't replace their couch unless they truly have to. In some cases, furniture is a need, but even then, an old sofa or somewhat used kitchen table can be scrounged on Facebook Marketplace or found at a yard sale. "Furniture shipments decreased by 6% between August 2024 and August 2025, while backlogs remained flat. Furniture stockpiles, however, increased by 3% from August to August, a possible indication that retai ...

Core Insights - Consumers are advised to stock up on essentials, especially home goods, due to expected "noticeable" price increases in early 2026 according to Wells Fargo [1] - Retailers have been holding or modestly increasing prices during the holiday season while offering targeted promotions and deeper discounts on select items [1] Inventory and Pricing Trends - In early 2025, many retailers strategically increased inventory purchases to avoid additional tariffs [2] - From May to September, retailers raised their inventory levels by 14%, but inventory in transit from overseas suppliers is projected to rise by 62% in early 2026 [5] - Home goods retailers, heavily reliant on imports, are implementing strategic price increases, leading to faster price hikes compared to apparel [8] Consumer Behavior and Recommendations - Major furniture purchases should be made now to avoid significant price increases expected in early 2026, as warned by Wells Fargo [10] - Apparel may also see price increases, but its lower base price may mitigate the impact compared to big-ticket items [9]

Financial giants have made a conspicuous bearish move on RH. Our analysis of options history for RH (NYSE:RH) revealed 11 unusual trades.Delving into the details, we found 9% of traders were bullish, while 72% showed bearish tendencies. Out of all the trades we spotted, 4 were puts, with a value of $176,750, and 7 were calls, valued at $2,232,120.What's The Price Target?After evaluating the trading volumes and Open Interest, it's evident that the major market movers are focusing on a price band between $160 ...

Core Viewpoint - MillerKnoll Inc. reported stronger-than-expected adjusted earnings for Q2 fiscal 2026, leading to a significant increase in share price [1] Financial Performance - The company posted adjusted earnings of $0.43 per share, surpassing the consensus estimate of $0.41 [2] - Revenue for the quarter was $955.2 million, slightly below analyst expectations of $962.47 million, and represented a year-over-year decline of 1.6% [2] - On an organic basis, sales decreased by 2.5% compared to the previous year [2] Future Outlook - For Q3, MillerKnoll forecasts revenue between $923 million and $963 million, exceeding the consensus estimate of $909.6 million [3] - Adjusted earnings for Q3 are projected to be between $0.42 and $0.48 per share, above the $0.41 expected by analysts [3] Operational Metrics - Despite the revenue decline, the company experienced order growth of 5.5%, totaling $972.5 million, with increases across all business segments [4] - Gross margin improved by 20 basis points to 39.0%, while adjusted operating margin decreased to 5.9% from 7.1% in the prior-year quarter [4]