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Consumer Packaged Goods: Page 136

U.S. Producer Prices Rose More Than Expected in September, Economists Say

Prices paid by U.S. businesses for goods and services increased more than expected in September, economists said, amid other signs that inflationary pressures may be increasing. The Labor Department said its producer price index was up 0.3 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis compared with August. Economists surveyed by The Wall Street Journal had expected a 0.2 percent increase.

Shoppers Will Pay More for Experiences, Retailers Claim

Americans increasingly would rather spend their money making memories - travel, sporting events, concerts, meals out - than on another outfit, retail consultants say. So, after years of choosing the speed and wide selection offered by big-box retailers such as Home Depot or online merchants like Amazon.com, customers are demanding higher engagement if they're going to buy something in a store.

Two Tap Launches Fully Automated Service for International Shopping

E-commerce software provider Two Tap has launched Two Tap Crossborder, a fully automated service that allows consumers outside of the U.S. to order products from American retailers just as easy as buying locally in their own country, the company announced. U.S. retailers can use the service to expand global sales to shoppers anywhere in the world without making changes to their existing infrastructure, Two Tap says.

Target Passes Walmart as Top Corporate Solar Customer

Target has surpassed perennial champion Walmart as the U.S.'s top corporate user of solar power, according to a new report. Target has installed 147 megawatts of solar capacity on 300 stores, according to the 2016 Solar Means Business Report from the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).

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Amazon Limiting Fulfillment Networks to Existing Merchants Ahead of Holiday Season

In an attempt to deal with potential network capacity issues this holiday season, Amazon is limiting the use of Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) warehouses and services to existing sellers between now and Dec. 19, the company confirmed. This means new sellers would have difficulty using FBA to fulfill last-minute Christmas orders.

AI Apps May Redefine Brick-and-Mortar Fashion Retail

Picture yourself entering a department store and, instead of wandering around searching for the correct department or product, you are guided by an expert personal concierge. The concierge is not a person, but rather a humanlike smartphone assistant. Whether you want to know "where are women's shoes located?" or "is this dress available in size six?" this concierge is always at hand to assist you. This is what retail shopping may be fast becoming, thanks to the mass proliferation of artificial intelligence (AI)-based technologies.

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Gartner Predicts Decline of Mobile Apps, Loss of IoT Data

The message at Gartner's recent Symposium/ITxpo was to prepare for a fast move to augmented reality, the decline of mobile apps, a major shift away from web browsing and more. Many users will expect businesses, universities and governments to respond to these shifts, the market research firm said at its annual conference.

Retailers Say They Are Increasingly Turning to Sustainable Cotton

Cotton, the most widely used natural fiber, is considered the world's dirtiest crop because of its heavy use of pesticides - its cultivation accounts for 17.5 percent of global insecticide sales. So in recent years, several apparel and home-goods companies, including Eileen Fisher, Patagonia, and Nike, have used organic cotton, grown by farmers who eschew pesticides and enrich their soil with compost. That's good for the environment but raises another big problem: Organic cotton is too expensive for average shoppers.

Holiday Season Hiring: More Companies Show Need for Human Touch

If robots are taking human jobs, they haven't made much headway in Santa's workshop - or in his supply chain. It turns out that even the most technologically advanced retailers need lots of humans to serve customers. Amazon, arguably the most disruptive force in American retailing, announced last week that it would be hiring 120,000 seasonal workers this year - 20 percent more than last year - and the Seattle giant isn't alone.

California's Proposed Regulations May Slow Progress on Driverless Cars

California's proposed rules for self-driving vehicles got another road test last week, as vehicle makers and industry groups expressed concern at a public workshop that the Department of Motor Vehicles' regulations could slow development of the technology and conflict with more flexible federal guidelines.

Dubai Plans 700mph Tube to Transport Freight

Building on plans to use the futuristic Hyperloop tube-transport system at its operations in Dubai, ports giant DP World has invested millions in the start-up company Hyperloop One, and its chief executive has joined the Hyperloop One board.

Amazon Adding 120,000 Workers To Meet Holiday Demand

The holidays are coming, and Amazon says it plans to add 120,000 seasonal workers in an effort to meet an expected spike in demand as more and more people trade bricks for clicks. The seasonal positions will be created at fulfillment centers, sorting centers and customer service sites in 27 states. The move marks a 20 percent boost from the 100,000 seasonal hires a year ago.

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