The S&P 500 has retreated after approaching the historical high established in October this year. As the index once again tested this price level, market sentiment turned more cautious, as investors require additional confirmation that earnings growth can be sustained, inflation will not re-accelerate, and the Federal Reserve truly has room to ease policy without reigniting inflationary pressures. With these conditions still unclear, profit-taking has begun to emerge, resulting in the current technical pullback that warrants attention.
This morning, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced September retail sales data, which showed sales began slowing even before the government shutdown through the economy for a loop. Sales increased 0.2% in September nationwide, slower than August's 0.6% gain. Worse, essentially all the increase in September "sales" came in the form of price hikes on products. Prices rose 0.3% in the month, and if you back out that increase, shopping-sales actually declined 0.1%.
While Black Friday and Cyber Monday - you know, when you promise yourself you're going to finish all the holiday shopping and end up with a bundle of gifts for yourself instead - are still, in theory, more than a week away, we'll let you in on a little secret: dozens of early Black Friday sales are already well underway, offering incredible deals and a chance to score on everything from sweaters to sofas to sex toys.
It's the coat most associated with a beloved children's character, so it makes sense that the duffel is a familiar sight in playgrounds across the country. But this year it is also once again quietly enjoying a moment on grown-ups. In the Christmas advert for Waitrose, comedian Joe Wilkinson wears a duffel coat while in the supermarket with Keira Knightley. Footballer Cole Palmer wore one in 2024's Burberry campaign, subtitled It's Always Burberry Weather.
Goldilocks jeans ie straight cut have made a comeback. Think Robert Redford in Three Days of the Condor, rather than Jeremy Clarkson's bootcut Top Gear era or an indie band's painted-on pip-squeezers. Leon Hedgepeth, a menswear writer who coined the term Goldilocks jeans, describes the style as not too skinny, not too baggy just right. Levi's' bestselling jeans of all time the 501, worn by everyone from Marlon Brando to Steve Jobs and Kate Moss best encapsulates the shape.
When it first started, Amazon Prime Day was exactly that: one day of fresh deals meant to hold Amazon lovers over until the best deals of the year drop on Black Friday. That was in 2015. Ten years later, however, Prime Day has evolved into a semiannual shopping event that rivals Black Friday in almost every way. The deals are deep and widespread and leave Prime members with no option but to buy more shit.
Victoria Beckham has positioned herself as a pop star, mother, perfumier, TikToker and fashion designer. But whatever job next month's Netflix documentary focuses on details are scant, but it's thought the early October series will end at her Paris catwalk show she will always be scrutinised over how she looks. How to temper that? Wear a plain white shirt. The Princess of Wales visits the Natural History Museum's gardens. Photograph: WPA/Getty
The scrapping of VAT-free shopping for international visitors has cost London's West End £310 million in lost sales during the first half of 2025, according to new research. The figure represents a 40 per cent rise on the £220 million recorded for the same period last year, and is the largest six-month loss since the scheme was abolished by the Conservative government in 2021.
In America, we have so few federal three-day weekends. The rest of the West takes off most of August, based off the Roman Feriae Augusti. Your ancestors had an August holiday in 18 BC, but you have to spend your one week of paid time if you want to see the sun. Your body feels the seasons changing, the days shortening.
The big picture: Nearly 1 in 5 adults reported buying Pokémon cards for themselves, though only a quarter actually play the game - most are collecting or investing, per Circana. This is similar to collectability of the bobblehead boom and the recent Labubu toy craze. U.S. toy sales rose 6% from January through April, according to Circana, who attributes the category's growth to new Pokémon releases and collectible sports trading cards.
Significant discounts on electric bikes are available during Amazon Prime Day, with excellent deals offered by retailers like Canyon, Jenson USA, and Backcountry.
Total like-for-like retail sales in discretionary categories remained below inflation in June, compared to a positive base of +3.2% in June 2024.
