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Tariffs, inflation push US retailers’ prices up
While many retailers are doing their best to absorb those costs associated with both stubborn inflation and the tariffs rolled out under the United States Trump administration, without hiking prices too much, Amazon appears to be raising them faster than most. Retailers often bump up prices when tariffs increase their costs, and companies like Walmart and Target are deploying a “portfolio approach” — meaning they selectively raise prices in some areas while keeping others steady. According to an analysis from research firm DataWeave, Amazon’s prices were up 12.8% on average this year through to the end of September, while prices at Target rose 5.5% and Walmart’s prices increased 5.3% over the same period. Having looked at around 16,000 products on each retailer’s website and continuously tracked live pricing data across categories and locations, DataWeave found that Amazon experienced its biggest price jump early in the year — between January and February — when prices on the analysed items rose 3.7%. Interestingly, that was before most of U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs were announced in April, which suggests the increase may have come from post-holiday price adjustments rather than tariffs themselves. Mean
Retail
Exposure: Tapping Australia’s most popular brands
For investors looking to back some of Australia’s most trusted consumer names - from Bunnings and Kmart to Woolworths, Coles and JB Hi-Fi - the ASX offers several direct routes. Gaining exposure to these companies not only provides exposure to these brands’ earnings but also offers a mix of dividend yields, growth potential, and defensive cash flows. Investors can gain exposure to big Aussie consumer names – Bunnings, Officeworks, Kmart, Target, Woolworths, Coles and JB Hi‑Fi – by buying the right ASX-listed stocks. The key publicly listed companies are Wesfarmers (ASX: WES), Woolworths Group (ASX: WOW), Coles Group (ASX: COL), JB Hi‑Fi (ASX: JBH), and Bunnings Warehouse Property Trust (ASX: BWP). Below we profile each, summarising their core business, as well as recent earnings and broker targets.Wesfarmers (ASX: WES) – Diversified Retail and Industrial PowerhouseWesfarmers is one of Australia’s largest and most diversified conglomerates. While its industrial arms include chemicals, energy, and fertilisers, its consumer-facing divisions are the real household names: Bunnings for home improvement, Kmart and Target for general merchandise, and Officeworks for office and school supplies. The stock typically trades in
Retail
Coles rings up higher Q1 sales
Coles has reported a 3.9% lift in sales for the first quarter of the 2026 financial year (Q1 FY26). Australia’s second largest retailer said sales were $10.963 billion ($7.16 billion) in the 13 weeks ended 28 September compared with $9.507 billion in the previous corresponding period (pcp). The company said supermarkets revenue increased 4.8% to $9.965 billion, while liquor revenue dropped 1.1% to $842 million, and other revenue fell 17.9% to $156 million.Source: Coles“We are pleased with our performance over the quarter with supermarket sales growth reflecting the focus we have had on value, quality and the customer experience,” Group CEO Leah Weckert said in an ASX announcement. “We continue to see positive results from our major transformation projects with availability reaching its highest levels since pre-COVID and eCommerce sales penetration reaching 13.3%.” She said Coles made significant progress with its ‘Simply Liquorland’ simplification program which was making the network more accessible to a broader audience and delivering a positive impact on sales This comes a day after Australia’s largest retailer Woolworths reported a 2.7% increase in sales to A$18.48 billion for the first quarter of the 2026 financ
Retail
Woolies sales rise 2.7% in Q1 as prices keep falling
Woolworths has reported a 2.7% increase in sales to A$18.48 billion (US$12.17 billion) for the first quarter of the 2026 financial year (Q1 FY26). Australia’s largest retailer said Australian food sales rose by 2.1% in the 14 weeks ending 5 October 2025, with food retail sales increasing by 3.8% if tobacco sales were excluded. Group CEO Amanda Bardwell said average prices (ex. tobacco) compared to the prior year had declined for seven consecutive quarters. “While the Q1 sales performance was below our aspirations and there remains more to do, the changes we are making to improve value, convenience and availability are being recognised by our customers,” Bardwell said in an ASX announcement. Source: WoolworthsFresh and Grocery Food were solid, Pet and Baby continued to underperform in store, tobacco sales declined by 51%, eCommerce sales grew by 12.9% and On Demand growth remained a highlight. Group VOC (Voice of the Customer) NPS increased by three points compared to the prior year and four points compared to Q4 F25, largely driven by improvements in Australian Food and New Zealand Food. In New Zealand, food sales growth improved towards the end of the quarter with total growth of 3.2% and eCommerce growth of 15.8%,
Retail
Target is set to cut around 1,800 corporate jobs
Target announced that it will be cutting around 1,800 corporate positions in an effort to streamline decision-making and accelerate initiatives to rebuild the retailer's customer base. Around 1,000 employees will be given notice next week that their jobs will be terminated, according to a company spokesperson. This will represent around 8% of Target’s corporate workforce globally, but will mainly impact workers are the company’s Minneapolis headquarters. Chief Operating Officer Michael Fiddelke, who was announced to be the company’s next CEO effective 1 February 2026, issued a note to personnel announcing the downsizing. “The truth is, the complexity we’ve created over time has been holding us back,” Fiddelke, a 20-year Target veteran, wrote in his note. “Too many layers and overlapping work have slowed decisions, making it harder to bring ideas to life.” When he was announced as the next CEO in August, he made his goals of reclaiming the company’s position as a leader in selecting and displaying merchandising, improving the customer experience by making sure shelves are consistently stocked and stores are clean, and investing in technology clear. This comes as Target attempts to rebound from declining store t

Retail
Costco stock rises on positive September earnings
Costco Wholesale stock rose more than 2% after the retailer released positive sales results for September. The company reported net sales of US$26.58 billion for the period ending 5 October, an increase of 8% year-over-year. Comparable sales climbed by 5.7%, led by a 6.3% rise in the United States and 6.3% growth in Canada, with an 8.5% increase across other international markets. Online sales jumped by 26% from last year as shoppers turned to digital channels as the company operates 914 warehouses, including 629 in the United States. It also noted that comparable sales for the prior year benefited 2% in the U.S. and 1.5% worldwide from temporary demand spikes tied to Hurricane Helene and port disruptions, suggesting this year's growth came from steadier demand patterns. The rise in sales has also been driven by membership growth. "At Q4 end, we had 38.7 million paid executive memberships, up 9.3% versus last year. Executive members represented 47.7% of paid members and 74.2% of worldwide sales,” CFO Gary Millerchip said during the company's fourth quarter earnings call in September. At the time of writing, Costco (NASDAQ: COST) stock was up 3.07% to US$942.89.
Retail
Retail reporting wrap: US consumer strength in question
The strength of the American consumer is once again in focus as some of the nation’s biggest retailers reported quarterly earnings in recent weeks. The results provided a glimpse into the United States' household spending patterns, with resilience in certain categories, and also illustrated the growing weight of tariffs on corporate strategies. Despite the S&P 500 reaching multiple record highs this year, retailers have struggled to keep pace with the broader market rally. Home Improvement Retailers: A Tale of Patience and Pro BetsHome Depot’s fiscal second-quarter results highlighted both resilience and lingering headwinds. The company stuck by its full-year outlook for 2.8% growth in total sales and about 1% growth in comparable sales. That commitment helped lift shares post-result, even as earnings and revenue fell slightly short of market expectations - marking the retailer’s first miss on both fronts since 2014. Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) came in at $4.68, compared with expectations of $4.71. Revenue reached $45.28 billion, just under the $45.36 billion forecast, but up nearly 5% year-over-year. Net income was essentially flat, at $4.55 billion. Chief Financial Officer Richard McPhail acknowledged the
Retail
Myer posts $211m loss after Apparel Brands purchase
Myer Group reported a loss last fiscal year following its purchase of Apparel Brands, with shares dropping by 28.9%. Total sales were A$3.67 billion across the fiscal year, up 12.5% due to the acquisition, while Myer Retail sales rose 1.2%. It reported a statutory net loss after tax of $211.2 million, caused by a one-off non-cash impairment from the acquisition. “FY25 was a transition year for Myer Group as we reset the base to position the business for long-term growth. Despite challenging macroeconomic conditions and tough retail markets in Australia and New Zealand, we achieved positive sales growth in our first period as a combined Group,” said Myer executive chair Olivia Wirth. “Our trading for the first seven weeks of FY26 has been positive and we are cautiously optimistic about the year ahead, with emerging pockets of improving consumer strength. We also expect to see a return on the enhancements and investments we have made to strengthen the Group and offset ongoing cost of doing business headwinds.” Operating gross profit was $1.41 billion, boosted in the year’s second half by the Apparel Brands purchase. The company reported $656.0 million in FY25’s first half. The company’s cost of doing business rose $43
Retail
Founders: Paris Buckland getting Storepro back on track
Last year, Paris Buckland was tasked with getting her parents' business, Storepro, back on track while juggling motherhood and her own business. Working at the business on and off for 15 years, Buckland was named CEO in November 2024 after returning to the company years before to help with the store fitters' COVID recovery. “Around mid to end of COVID, I came back on, kind of as a strategic advisor to help navigate what was happening with the changes and the industry and construction in general,” Buckland tells Azzet. “Then we had a change of leadership and I stepped into the CEO role.” At Storepro, Buckland says they help brands fit out stores with equipment, fixtures and fittings while also acting as partners and achieved double-digit growth from 2021 to 2024. She also says the industry she entered can be competitive, especially in Victoria, where she is based, due to there being low barriers to entry. “It's a really low barrier to entry, kind of, because you can kind of come in as a tradesman or a project manager, for example, and you can start up quite easily,” she says. However, Buckland also pointed out that it is an industry that has seen much evolution in recent years, as retail was hit hard by COVID.C