News Briefs

Consumers plan to cut back on purchases of technology items this holiday season.

The average U.S. adult intending to purchase tech goods during the 2026 holiday season will spend $808, a 13% reduction from $931 in 2025. Data from a CNET survey of U.S. consumers also reveals that 73% of respondents plan to buy tech this holiday season.

Millennial respondents planning to make tech purchases actually skew the results somewhat with an average spend amount of $1,074, far ahead of Gen Z ($774), Gen X ($698) and baby boomer ($582) respondents.

Popular product categories for tech gifts (represented by share of respondents who plan to purchase tech) include:

• Toys 30%.
• Kitchen items 25%.
• Headphones or earbuds 20%.
• Phone accessories 18%.
• Console video games 18%.
• Wearables 16%.
• Streaming service subscriptions 14%.
• Phone 13%.
• TV 11%.
• Laptop/PC 11%.
• Smart home devices 10%.

Key concerns of holiday tech shoppers include:

• Deceptive pricing such as raising prices before applying a discount 43%.
• Deals selling out instantly 39%.
• Inflated baseline prices 35%.
• High prices for outdated tech 33%.
• Mandatory hardware subscriptions 30%.
• Unexpected post-purchase fees 29%.
• Confusing specs and model overload 25%.

The survey also asked respondents when they plan to begin their seasonal shopping activities. One-in-10 (9%) respondents started their holiday shopping in August and 5% began in September. Another 18% intend to start in October and a leading 27% plan to commence holiday shopping in November, with only 12% waiting until December. Another 11% don’t know, and 18% don’t plan on doing any holiday shopping this year.

[READ MORE: Survey: Holiday shopping begins early for large number of consumers]

YouGov Plc conducted a survey for CNET of 2,615 U.S. adults 18 and older, of whom 1,552 were interested in purchasing consumer tech products or services this winter holiday season, from Sept. 3-6, 2026.  

Amazon and a celebrity designer whose father is a former Beatle are among the founders of a cross-industry effort to boost fashion supply chain sustainability.

Amazon, designer Stella McCartney and climate non-profit Canopy have introduced The Climate Pledge Fashion Coalition, an initiative designed to scale more sustainable materials and reduce environmental effects across fashion supply chains.

With convening support from the World Economic Forum, the coalition supports more than 60 signatories to Amazon’s Climate Pledge (co-founded with social/environmental change group Global Optimism) in their commitment to operate more sustainably and be net zero carbon across their businesses by 2040.

[READ MORE: EU’s ban on destruction of unsold clothing, shoes takes effect]

The coalition targets innovation earlier in the product life cycle by supporting the development and adoption of materials and processes with measurably lower environmental footprints. These include recycled and next-generation fibers made from waste feedstocks, as well as manufacturing technologies that reduce water use, chemical inputs, and emissions.

Offerings for members include:

Fashion-focused Climate Pledge signatories include Anna Sui, Another Tomorrow, Bananatex, BioFluff, Brooks Running, Christopher Esber, Circ, Ciucani, Collina Strada, DL1961, E.L.V Denim, Faherty, Mother Denim, Pure.Tech, Selfridges, unspun, and Vestiaire Collective.

Soft Swerve, Tony’s Tacos and Noches De Colombia will open this week at Queens Center, which also will unveil remodeled locations for Sephora, Adidas, and Windsor. Additional retailer renovations are also underway at Garage and JD Sports.

“Queens Center has long been a part of the local community. Over the past 50+ years our focus has always been on evolving alongside the shoppers we serve,” said Jamie Bourbeau, senior VP of leasing at Macerich, the owner-operator of the mall. “We’re seeing that continue today as new retailers and concepts join the center, adding to an already strong lineup of brands. It’s a reflection of the role Queens Center plays as one of the borough’s most important shopping destinations.” 

The company has also placed an emphasis on drawing Gen Z shoppers across its portfolio with brands that are favored by that generation.

The latest openings build on a strong year for Queens Center, following openings for Dave’s Hot Chicken and Crispy Burger as the center continues to bring in a mix of national brands and local concepts. 

Macerich reported that Queens Center receives 12 million annual visitors, who average dwell times of 78 minutes. The big mall operator reported company-record, portfolio-wide sales of $919 per square across its portfolio in the second quarter of 2026.

Amazon is giving members of its paid membership program a seasonal treat for their vehicles – and wallets.

Starting Friday, Oct. 2 and running through Friday, Jan. 29, 2027, a springtime Prime promotion called Fuel Up Fridays will return in time for the holidays. Prime members, who already save $0.10 per gallon year-round at more than 7,500 BP and Amoco gas stations and participating AmPm and Thorntons convenience stores through a joint perk Amazon and BP began offering in fall 2024, can now save a total of $0.20 per gallon on one fuel purchase made each Friday during the promotion at participating locations.

[READ MORE: Amazon partners with BP to offer gas discount for Prime members]

To activate their fuel savings benefit, Prime members can sign up for a free BP Earnify loyalty account and then visit a dedicated page on the Amazon site. Activating the offer will connect a member’s Amazon and Earnify accounts. 

Members can then use the free Earnify app store locator to find the nearest BP, Amoco, or participating Thorntons and AmPm locations and begin redeeming at the pump by inputting their phone number or linked payment method. Households with Amazon Family memberships can save $0.20 per gallon at those fuel providers throughout the year.

This holiday fuel perk follows a promotion during the July Fourth holiday weekend (July 2-5), that allowed members of the Prime, Prime Access and Prime for Young Adults loyalty programs to save $0.50 per gallon on one fuel purchase at more than 7,500 BP, Amoco and participating AmPm and Thorntons locations across the U.S. 

The Candlewood Shops in Lakewood, Calif., east of Anaheim, has new owners for the first time since the development was built in the Sixties, according to Marcus & Millichap. 

The property — an out-parcel next to the Lakewood Center Mall — is a food and  beverage island whose tenants include Chipotle, Starbucks, Chick-fil-A and Outback Steakhouse.

“Its position as an outparcel to Lakewood Center, combined with established national tenants and the continued investment and development occurring in the surrounding area, made this a unique acquisition opportunity,” said Bill Rose, senior managing director investments at Marcus & Millichap.

Lakewood Center is anchored by Costco, Target, The Home Depot, Albertsons, Burlington, Macy’s, JCPenney, Best Buy and 24 Hour Fitness. 

The surrounding area is also positioned for additional development, with more than 1,000 new housing units planned as part of the Lakewood Center mixed-use overlay.

Casey’s General Stores has made its second acquisition of 2026.

The Iowa-based convenience giant has acquired Oklahoma-based ASAP Energy Inc.’s 20-store ASAP General Stores convenience business, according to Chain Store Age’s sister publication Convenience Store News. The transaction also includes ASAP Energy's wholesale and commercial fuels and lubricants businesses, as well as other related assets.

ASAP Energy owners Rick and Sheila Koch announced the agreement, citing opportunities for their employees and Casey's presence in smaller communities as factors in the decision to sell to the business.

"We want more for our employees – more opportunities for professional growth, more resources and more possibilities for long-term success. We believe Casey's can provide those opportunities," the Kochs said in a Facebook post. "Casey's is a company where people can build long, rewarding careers, and we see this as an incredible opportunity for our team members to grow alongside a thriving brand."

In August, Casey’s agreed to acquire Pak-A-Sak, a family-owned convenience chain with 24 locations in the Texas panhandle.

[READ MORE: Casey's acquires Texas convenience chain]

A month earlier, the company announced a new strategic plan centered around three priorities: adding "at least" 400 new stores over the period, expanding its food and beverage offerings, and enhancing its operational efficiency by implementing new technology. Since introducing its last strategic plan in 2023, Casey's has opened more than 500 new stores and joined the S&P 500.

Founded in 1968, Casey’s is the third-largest convenience store retailer and the fifth-largest pizza chain in the United States. It operates more than 2,900 stores across 19 states.