News Briefs

A free shopping app that gives consumers access to hundreds of retailers is coming to the U.S.

WeShop has its official U.S. launch on Monday, Nov. 16. The app provides access to hundreds of retailers including eBay and Booking.com and lets members earn “ShareBack” rewards which turn into “WePoints” which they may redeem for WeShop’s Class A ordinary shares. Purchases made through WeShop are also eligible for a user’s usual credit card rewards, as well as any retailer-specific loyalty points.

Beginning Wednesday, Sept. 30, consumers nationwide can download the free app, reserve their personalized username and be among the first to join the community by signing up for WeShop’s waiting list. New members will be admitted on a rolling basis, beginning on Nov. 16.

According to WeShop, its previous U.K. pilot generated close to $145 million in gross merchandise value and most new members joined through referrals rather than paid acquisition. The company’s U.S. launch is timed to coincide with the start of the holiday season, and it plans to make financial education part of the member experience, helping consumers understand what they are earning and what it means to become an owner.

[READ MORE: RetailMeNot rolls out rewards app]

“Consumers have spent decades being asked to give brands their attention, loyalty and purchasing power, often in exchange for rewards that are fragmented, restrictive or easy to forget,” said Maria Weaver, CEO of WeShop. “We believe shoppers should benefit and have ownership in the very platforms where they spend their money, turning consumption into financial participation. WeShop puts the consumer at the center of the shopping experience while giving them something more lasting in return: the opportunity to shop, earn and build equity in WeShop.”

[READ MORE: Albertsons Cos. CFO to retire; search for a successor underway]

As of June 20, 2026, Albertsons Cos. operated 2,240 retail stores with 1,708 in-store pharmacies, 408 associated fuel centers, 22 dedicated distribution centers and 19 manufacturing facilities.

A free shopping app that gives consumers access to hundreds of retailers is coming to the U.S.

WeShop has its official U.S. launch on Monday, Nov. 16. The app provides access to hundreds of retailers including eBay and Booking.com and lets members earn “ShareBack” rewards which turn into “WePoints” which they may redeem for WeShop’s Class A ordinary shares. Purchases made through WeShop are also eligible for a user’s usual credit card rewards, as well as any retailer-specific loyalty points.

Beginning Wednesday, Sept. 30, consumers nationwide can download the free app, reserve their personalized username and be among the first to join the community by signing up for WeShop’s waiting list. New members will be admitted on a rolling basis, beginning on Nov. 16.

According to WeShop, its previous U.K. pilot generated close to $145 million in gross merchandise value and most new members joined through referrals rather than paid acquisition. The company’s U.S. launch is timed to coincide with the start of the holiday season, and it plans to make financial education part of the member experience, helping consumers understand what they are earning and what it means to become an owner.

[READ MORE: RetailMeNot rolls out rewards app]

“Consumers have spent decades being asked to give brands their attention, loyalty and purchasing power, often in exchange for rewards that are fragmented, restrictive or easy to forget,” said Maria Weaver, CEO of WeShop. “We believe shoppers should benefit and have ownership in the very platforms where they spend their money, turning consumption into financial participation. WeShop puts the consumer at the center of the shopping experience while giving them something more lasting in return: the opportunity to shop, earn and build equity in WeShop.”

When it comes to shopping for fashion, in-store wins out over online — more so in some states than others.

New data from YouGov reveals that the share of consumers shopping mostly in-store exceeds the share shopping mostly online in every state except Maryland and New York, where online narrowly leads, and Delaware, where the two are tied. YouGov found that 34% of adults mostly or always shop for clothes and shoes offline, while 27% primarily buy online, and 34% split their purchase between both.

Across the nation, consumers’ shopping habits vary. At 39% each, Hawaii and Kansas have the highest proportions of adults who shop for clothes and shoes mostly or always in stores, with Montana, Utah and Iowa following at 38%.

Some of the biggest differences between the two channels appear in these states, YouGov found. In Kansas, 39% prefer in-store shopping for clothes and shoes, compared with 24% who mainly shop online. Montana has a 38% to 25% split, while Hawaii similarly stands at 39% offline and 26% online.

[READ MORE: PayPal: Here's how holiday shopping is changing]

South Dakota and New Jersey (37%) are among the states with the highest proportions dividing their fashion shopping about evenly between on- and offline channels. California, Colorado, Oklahoma and North Carolina are not far behind, at 36%.

At 32% each, Maryland and Delaware have some of the highest shares of consumers who generally buy clothes and shoes online. New York follows at 31%, with Virginia standing at 30%.

YouGov Profiles data is based on U.S. adults and covers the period from August 2025 to August 2026. Respondents were categorized according to whether they tend to shop for clothes and shoes all or mostly online, about evenly online and offline, or all or mostly offline.

The Common Cents Act, which provides a national standard for rounding cash transactions to the nearest nickel, is en route to the desk of President Donald Trump, who is expected to sign it into law.

The bipartisan legislation marks the formal end of the production of the penny for general circulation. Pennies, however, remain legal tender and can still be used by consumers and stores.

The passing of the bill was hailed by retailers as a significant victory for the industry by reducing operational challenges caused by the penny shortage. It allows businesses selling goods or services for cash a legal framework to round totals up or down to the nearest five cents. 

The rounding rules apply only to cash transactions. Electronic, credit and digital payments continue to be processed to the exact cent.

The bill overrides an array of conflicting state and local laws that previously prohibited routine cash rounding.

“The act provides guidance that is critical for businesses that process cash transactions as the number of pennies in circulation continues to dwindle,” said Brennan Duckett, director of regulatory and policy at the National Association of Convenience Stores.

In a blog on the Retail Industry Leaders Association website, Evan Armstrong, senior VP, government affairs, noted that a federal framework would also help protect consumers.

"Clear rules ensure rounding is applied consistently and transparently, rather than leaving shoppers and employees to navigate uncertainty at the register," he said. "Consumers should know what to expect, and businesses should have confidence that they are following the law."

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.