News Briefs
- 9/25/2026
Consumer sentiment weakens in September as economic fears worsen
U.S. consumer sentiment fell to a four-month low in September amid increasing concerns about high prices and the economy
Consumer sentiment fell to 48.1 in September, down from 51.7 in August, according to The University of Michigan’s Index of Consumer Sentiment. It is down 15% from January 2026.
In addition, views of current and year-ahead expected personal finances both weakened about 10% this month, with concerns over high prices continuing to climb. The Index of Consumer Expectations fell to 46.3 from 51.5 in August. The Index of Current Economic Conditions inched down to 50.9 from 51.9.
Buying conditions for durables improved a bit, in part due to a perception that completing such purchases now would help consumers avoid higher prices in the future. The short-run outlook for business conditions plunged amid renewed worries that elevated fuel prices and re-escalating trade disputes could pass through to the economy as a whole.
“Overall, interviews reveal broad agreement across the political spectrum that the outlook for the economy has weakened since the beginning of the year,” said Joanne Hsu, director, surveys of consumers. “ After particularly large declines in sentiment this month, Republican sentiment is now 20% lower than January 2026; Democrats are down 13% over the same period."
INFLATION
Year-ahead inflation expectations jumped from 4.0% last month to 4.6% this month, the highest reading since June. The current reading substantially exceeds the 3.4% seen in February before the Iran conflict began, along with all 2024 readings.
Long-run inflation expectations ticked up to 3.4%, ending three consecutive months at 3.3%. These expectations remain higher than their 2024 range of 2.8% to 3.2%.
- 9/25/2026
Burlington, Marshalls open at three-level Miami shopping center
Two fast-expanding off-price retailers have joined the roster of anchor tenants at Dadeland Station.
Burlington opened at the property in late August, followed by Marshalls in mid-September, together adding 62,000 square feet of new retail to the three-level, vertically-constructed Miami shopping center. The two retailers, which both have been growing their respective footprints nationwide, join Target, Best Buy, Michaels, PetSmart and more at Dadeland Station.
Located off of US 1 (South Dixie Highway), the property sees approximately 5,000 vehicle visits per day, according to Berkowitz Development Group.
“Dadeland Station is experiencing tremendous momentum and is a great example of the continued strength and evolution of brick-and-mortar retail,” said Michael Berkowitz, Principal of Berkowitz Development Group, which opened the property in 1996. “The performance of our existing tenants, combined with the significant investment being made by Burlington and Marshalls, demonstrates the continued demand for well-positioned physical retail.”
[READ MORE: Burlington investing $370 million in headquarters move]
With the new additions, Dadeland Station has one remaining retail opportunity: an approximately 42,500-sq.-ft. anchor space. The shopping center spans 330,000 leasable square feet in total.
“We’re focused on attracting retailers that can perform at a very high level and continuing to strengthen Dadeland Station as one of Miami’s most successful retail destinations,” added Berkowitz.
- 9/25/2026
U.K. arena Co-op Live unifies food and beverage operations
A leading U.K. live entertainment venue is integrating ordering, payments, and operational data across its food and beverage touchpoints.
Located in Manchester, U.K., Co-op Live is a 23,500-capacity arena featuring over 120 nights a year of unique entertainment with food and beverage outlets including bars, concessions, premium lounges, and self-service kiosks.
[READ MORE: Caesars Superdome deploys self-ordering kiosks in time for Super Bowl]
Seeking to process high volumes of food and beverage transactions while maintaining tight control over inventory and profitability, Co-op Live is leveraging the Oracle Simphony Cloud POS solution and NetSuite ERP platform.
“By bringing food and beverage operations and financial management together with Oracle Simphony and NetSuite, Co-op Live can improve efficiency, inventory management, and decision-making to further enhance the experience for fans,” said Kevin Kimber, senior VP and GM, U.K. and Ireland, Oracle.
This deployment helps Co-Op Live obtain timely insight into sales performance, product demand, and venue operations. By bringing together operational information with the financial management capabilities in NetSuite, Co-op Live can simplify financial reconciliation and improve budgeting and forecasting, giving finance and operations personnel a shared view of business performance.
“Co-op Live was designed to be one of the world's most advanced live entertainment venues, and that requires best-in-class technology behind every aspect of the fan experience,” said Guy Dunstan, senior VP and GM, Co-op Live. “By connecting our venue and finance data, our teams have better visibility across the business, helping us make more informed decisions while delivering fast, efficient, and reliable service at every event.”
- 9/25/2026
Edens acquires upscale open-air center in San Diego metro
An upscale, grocery-anchored center located near the Pacific Ocean has changed hands.
Commercial real estate owner and operator Edens has acquired The Forum, a 263,000-sq.-ft., open-air center in Carlsbad, Calif., north of San Diego. The purchase brings the company's California portfolio to 12 properties totaling approximately 2.1 million square feet.
Edens acquired The Forum from a joint venture between Northwood Investors LLC and Nuveen Real Estate. Eastdil Secured represented the sellers in the transaction. The sale price was not disclosed.
Opened in 2004, The Forum is anchored by specialty grocer Jimbo's, and features a mix of tenants that includes Apple, Vuori, Lululemon, Sur La Table, Anthropologie, Warby Parker, The Henry and more.
According to recent U.S. Census data, the San Diego metropolitan area has a population of roughly 3.3 million residents, with a median household income of $109,000.
“The Forum is an irreplaceable, high-performing property in a market where we see enduring strength,” said Jami Passer, chief investment officer at Edens. “This acquisition is a significant step in our Southern California expansion and reflects a broader strategy of investing in places with strong community relevance and the potential to become more compelling over the long term.”
[READ MORE: Chicagoland lifestyle center acquired by Connecticut-based firm]
Founded in 1966, Edens’ portfolio includes 93 open-air retail and mixed-use destinations nationwide. Its other California properties include The Shops at La Jolla Village (La Jolla, Calif.), Long Beach Exchange (Long Beach, Calif.) and Strawberry Village (Marin Valley, Calif.).
- 9/25/2026
Cargo theft costs most retailers at least $1M per year
Cargo theft is a growing – and expensive – problem in the retail industry.
Four-in-10 retailers report annual losses of at least $1 million due to cargo theft and 28% report annual losses of more than $2 million. The new Cargo Theft Report from Internet of Things connectivity solution provider SmartSense by Digi also reveals that 80% of surveyed U.S.-based loss and organized retail crime prevention executives say that cargo theft incidents have led to lost sales.
More than six-in-10 (63%) respondents say cargo theft incidents have increased compared with last year and eight-in-10 (81%) say it has become more organized in recent years. Unsurprisingly, 81% of respondents say organized retail crime is a growing concern for their organization and 79% say their organization is more concerned about cargo theft today than ever before.
[READ MORE: CSA Exclusive: Ex-mobster sheds light on organized crime in retail]
Eight-in-10 respondents say cargo theft incidents have led to lost sales for their organization, and seven-in-10 say their organizations are investing more this year in cargo theft prevention compared to last year.
When asked about cargo theft tactics, respondents identified fraudulent pickups and carrier impersonation (78%), GPS jamming and spoofing (71%), trailer theft (66%) and double brokering (64%) as their top concerns. Surprisingly, only 37% of respondents say they regularly report incidents and work directly with law enforcement on investigations.
Overall, the capabilities respondents believe will make the biggest difference in fighting cargo theft include real-time location visibility and data that can be used to identify recurring theft patterns or high-risk routes.
In August, Coleman Parkes polled 150 U.S.-based loss prevention and organized retail crime prevention executives representing companies with annual revenues ranging from less than $10 million to more than $10 billion.
- 9/24/2026
Survey: Nearly two-thirds of global consumers have used an AI shopping tool
Consumers around the globe are expected to rely on artificial intelligence-based tools this holiday season with shopping set to soon kick off for many.
New Infobip research also reveals that 63% of consumers in nine markets worldwide have used an AI assistant or chatbot while shopping during the past 12 months, with 22% using one frequently.
Among consumers willing to use AI for shopping, almost three-quarters (73%) would use it to compare products, and more than two-thirds (67%) would use it to find deals matching their preferences. Nearly a quarter (23%) say they have not used one yet, but would consider it.
[READ MORE: Mastercard Economic Institute: Holiday spending to rise 5.5% year over year]
Consumers’ reliance on AI tools comes as they start the holiday season early. Nearly six-in-10 respondents will have started holiday shopping by early November, while only 19% wait until Black Friday week itself.
A quarter (25%) of those surveyed plan to start holiday shopping in October or earlier, and a third (34%) plan to begin in early November.
“Black Friday is no longer a single day or even a single week – it has become an extended conversation between consumers and brands, beginning with discovery and continuing through purchase, delivery and support,” said Goran Juršić, chief growth officer at Infobip. “AI gives retailers the opportunity to make those conversations faster, more relevant and more personal. The winners will not be the brands that send the most messages, but those that understand when, where and how each customer wants to engage.”
Infobip’s full report can be found here.
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