Best printers for Home

Best Mixer Grinder

Best wired Earphones

Best 43 Inch TV in India

Best Wi Fi Routers

Best Home Theatre in India

Smart Watch under 5000

Best Laptops for Education

Best Laptop for Students

Mumbai: The Reserve Bank is unlikely to cut the benchmark <keyword id="20071327" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="interest-rate" source="keywords">interest rate</keyword> in its forthcoming bi-monthly monetary policy review later in the week as <keyword id="19999652" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="retail-inflation" source="keywords">retail inflation</keyword> is still a cause of concern, and there is a possibility of the Middle East crisis deteriorating further, impacting crude oil and commodity prices, say experts. Earlier this month, the government reconstituted the Reserve Bank's rate-setting panel -- <keyword id="19913109" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Monetary-Policy-Committee" source="keywords">Monetary Policy Committee</keyword> (MPC). The reconstituted panel, with three newly appointed external members, will commence its maiden meeting on Monday. MPC Chairman RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das will reveal the outcome of the three-day discussion on Wednesday (October 9). The <keyword id="19899810" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Reserve-Bank-of-India" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Reserve Bank of India" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Reserve Bank of India">Reserve Bank of India</keyword> (RBI) has kept the repo or short-term lending rate unchanged at 6.5 per cent since February 2023, and experts think some easing could only be possible in December. The government has tasked the central bank to ensure that Consumer Price Index (CPI) based retail inflation remains at 4 per cent with a margin of 2 per cent on either side. In the current context, experts feel that the RBI may not follow the US Federal Reserve, which lowered the benchmark rates by 50 basis points, and the central banks of some developed nations, which have reduced the interest rates. "We do not expect any change in the <keyword id="20094323" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="repo-rate" source="keywords">repo rate</keyword> or stance by MPC. The reason is that inflation for September and October will be above 5 per cent, and the present low inflation is due to the base effect. Besides, core inflation is inching upwards," said Madan Sabnavis, Chief Economist, Bank of Baroda. Further, the recent Iran-Israel imbroglio can intensify, and there is uncertainty here, he said. "Hence, the status quo is the most likely option even for new members. Inflation forecast may be lowered by 10-20 bps and no change in GDP forecast likely," said Sabnavis. The central bank last hiked the repo rate to 6.5 per cent in February 2023 and since then, it has held the rate at the same level. Icra Chief Economist Aditi Nayar said that given the undershooting in the initial first quarter GDP growth relative to the MPC's forecast and the likely sizeable undershooting in the second quarter CPI inflation print as well, "we believe a stance change to neutral may be appropriate in the October 2024 policy review". This could be followed by a shallow rate-cutting cycle of 25 bps each in December 2024 and February 2025, she added. "The abundant monsoon offers some insurance for crop inflation. The impact of global political developments and geopolitical uncertainty on the growth inflation dynamics remains a risk," Nayar added. An HSBC report said three developments stand out -- softer growth numbers have trickled in recently, inflation has been falling, and the external environment has moved from rate hikes to cuts. "We believe the RBI doesn't gain from waiting any longer. We think it will change its stance from a hawkish 'withdrawal of accommodation' to 'neutral' in the upcoming 9 October policy meeting, followed by repo rate cuts of 25 bps each in the December and February meetings, taking the repo rate to 6 per cent," the report said. The RBI kept the repo rate unchanged at 6.5 per cent in its August bi-monthly review amid risks from higher food inflation. This was the ninth consecutive MPC meeting, which decided to maintain the status quo on the rate front. Pradeep Aggarwal, founder and chairman, Signature Global (India) Limited, said while the real estate industry, developer community, and homebuyers are hoping for an interest rate cut in the upcoming monetary policy review, the RBI is likely to hold on to the interest rate cuts for the tenth consecutive time. "The apex bank still seems uncomfortable with the overall retail inflation scenario, particularly food inflation. As such, it is expected to maintain the status quo. The recent interest rate cut by the US Federal Reserve has ignited similar hopes even in India, but the domestic scenario is very different," he added. SBM Bank India Head Treasury Mandar Pitale believed that the MPC has persistently advocated a restrictive policy until inflation aligns durably towards the 4 per cent target. "With the unfavourable base effect taking the next couple of CPI prints near 5 per cent plus or minus, it will pose a major challenge for MPC to start easing from the October meeting," Pitale said, adding that the MPC is also expected to deliberate upon the global factors like growth-inflation behaviour in developed economies. The government has appointed Ram Singh, Saugata Bhattacharya, and Nagesh Kumar as external members of the MPC. They have replaced Ashima Goyal, Shashanka Bhide, and Jayanth R Varma. Apart from the Governor, the other internal members are the RBI Deputy Governor in charge of monetary policy Michael Debabrata Patra and the Executive Director monetary policy department of RBI Rajiv Ranjan. In an off-cycle meeting in May 2022, the MPC raised the policy rate by 40 basis points and it was followed by rate hikes of varying sizes, in the subsequent meetings till February 2023. The repo rate was raised by 250 basis points cumulatively between May 2022 and February 2023.

Status-quo on interest rate likely, say experts ahead of RBI's policy review

The Retailers Association of India (RAI) on Friday called for <keyword id="20141385" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="lower-taxes" source="keywords">lower taxes</keyword> for individuals to generate demand and spur <keyword id="20018646" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="consumption" source="keywords">consumption</keyword> besides seeking low-cost finance, subsidies and benefits on land rates and necessities such as <keyword id="20028294" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="electricity" source="keywords">electricity</keyword> for retailers ahead of <keyword id="6360189" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Union-Budget" source="Orion">Union Budget</keyword> FY25. Retailing in India accounts for about 10% of the country's GDP and the sector is second only to agriculture in terms of the number of people directly employed, RAI said in its pre-Budget memorandum highlighting areas that need attention in order to make the industry stronger. "To ensure the growth of the sector, the Union Budget for FY25 should focus on generating demand and spurring consumption by offering benefits or concessions in the form of lower taxes. It will boost the overall consumer sentiment and benefit the retail sector, it said adding, consumption equals to development and the "tax benefits and relief to individual <keyword id="59866" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="taxpayers" source="Orion">taxpayers</keyword> will increase the monthly disposable income and support consumption", the memorandum noted. Further, the budget should outline supportive policies, simplified regulations, skill development and simple goods and services tax (GST) norms to aid the development of the retail industry, RAI said. Asking for low-cost finance to retailers, the industry body said, "There is a need to provide lower interest rate to the retailers through the special announcement in the Budget to assure easier financing for the retail businesses." It also asked the government to consider the food and beverages retail sector as an essential service and said "subsidies and benefits should be given on land rates and other necessities such as electricity". RAI also said there is a need to expedite the formulation and implementation of '<keyword id="5649262" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="National-Retail-Policy" source="Orion">National Retail Policy</keyword>' to enable ease of doing business and that "such a step would provide a substantial boost to the retail sector". Stating that benefits to retail and wholesale trade MSMEs are restricted to priority sector lending only, RAI also recommended that retail and wholesale traders should be eligible for all benefits available to other MSMEs. Further, the retailers' body asked the Centre to encourage and incentivise states to adopt 'The Model Shops and Establishment (Regulation of Employment and Condition of Services) Act 2016 that enables states to choose to keep shops and other such establishments open 24X7 all through the year.

RAI's Budget wishlist: Lower taxes for individuals, benefits on land rates, electricity

America's absurd war on 'organized retail crime'

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Trump's second term likely means changes are on the way that will impact retailers.</li><li>Experts say tariffs are top-of-mind for many companies and would represent new costs for consumers.</li></ul><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-wins-presidential-election-race-2024-11">Donald Trump's return</a> to the White House is likely to usher in sweeping changes that will impact retailers like Walmart, Target, and Costco — ranging from new tariffs to tax cuts and a new regulatory environment. Trump's campaign promises, along with his prior term record, offer some insights into what major retailers can expect from his second term.In the lead-up to November 5, companies including TractorTractor Supply Co., Best Buy, and Dick's Sporting Goods said on their earnings calls that the election contributed to a generally more cautious US consumer.However, the unambiguous election result should comfort retailers heading into the critical holiday shopping period."Elections are very distracting for the consumer," Global Data retail analyst Neil Saunders told Business Insider. "It's not massively bad, but it's just not helpful for consumer confidence and the consumer attention.""Retail wants really a clear victory — whichever way," he added. "Then they can understand the policies and how to react, and then the consumer can start focusing on the holidays and opening their wallets."Walmart, which operates thousands of stores in red states and blue states alike, was measured in its outlook in an August earnings call."Good thing about elections is they come along every four years and we get to have a lot of history with seeing the impact of that," Walmart CFO John David Rainey said.With Election Day in the rearview, here are four key areas that retailers will be watching closely during this transition period.<h2 id="c7dc6c7e-c57f-4aeb-a65e-08e99c74d0b6">Tariffs are the biggest question</h2>Top-of-mind for many companies right now is <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/global-reaction-donald-trump-election-victory-tariffs-trade-disputes-2024-11">the question of tariffs</a>, experts said.If Trump follows through on his campaign proposals of 10%-20% tariffs on most imports and 60-100% tariffs on goods from China, it would mean significant change to the way retailers do business."It would be a massive upheaval to most of the cost structures for these companies," said Chris Walton, a former Target executive and founder of Omni Talk.Given the expense of reorganizing supply chains, large retailers are still in the research phase rather than committing to a new strategy, Walton said.While retailers may absorb some of the costs associated with tariffs, US households would likely lose up to $78 billion in spending power per year, according to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://nrf.com/media-center/press-releases/trump-tariff-proposals-could-cost-americans-78-billion-annual-spending">analysis</a> from the National Retail Federation, a lobby group representing the industry."A tariff is a tax paid by the US importer, not a foreign country or the exporter," said NRF's vice president of supply chain and customs policy, Jonathan Gold. "This tax ultimately comes out of consumers' pockets through higher prices."Still, Johns Hopkins business professor Tinglong Dai said the retail industry has handled prior rounds of tariffs without too much disruption to prices or the flow of essential goods."Retailers have become incredibly adept at absorbing these frictions," he said."You can say it's a negotiating strategy and it won't actually come to pass, or you can say will come to pass, maybe in a diluted form and not that severe, but it's causing a lot of nervousness," Saunders said of Trump's proposals.<h2 id="15b0f877-b89f-47c0-9a3c-6c75bf5bf298">Taxes matter, but take time to see results</h2>Trump is expected to extend his 2017 tax cuts, which are scheduled to expire next year. He's also likely to cut corporate taxes further, backed by his supporters in the House and Senate.Saunders said tax cuts will lead to more disposable income for consumers, which could lift spending."The whole of retail is very dependent on the middle class and what you can eke out of their spending levels," he said.Any changes to the tax code are likely to be less disruptive than tariffs since they will take many months to flow through the economy.Plus, retailers routinely manage tax changes at every level of government from local to national, Walton said."What's different," he added, "is this is of a size and scope that the retail industry hasn't seen in 100 years."<h2 id="1c185c04-3458-4dce-a9eb-401d657f36f1">Immigration presents a mix of challenges</h2>Past <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/07/22/what-we-know-about-unauthorized-immigrants-living-in-the-us/">studies</a> from the Pew Research Center suggest that relatively few of the retail industry's 15 million employees are living in the US illegally, so a crackdown on illegal immigration wouldn't likely complicate retailers' hiring efforts.Still, a widespread deportation effort could negatively impact people throughout the company, as well as customers and communities."Everyone's gonna feel the brunt of that," Walton said. "If that were to happen, it's a tough thing to prepare for, because the collateral damage from it could be pretty expensive."A more pressing concern, Saunders says, is a tightening of legal immigration, including the H1-B visa program for skilled workers, including the tech talent that giants like Amazon, Walmart, and Target increasingly rely on."That's actually very unhelpful for a lot of retailers, especially in areas like technology, which a lot of retailers are involved," he said.Other experts told BI that <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-presidency-affect-big-tech-2024-11">concern over national security</a> and the availability of workers is far different from eight years ago, which could persuade Trump to soften his position.<h2 id="47fd7844-d2aa-4d9d-bc9c-0df1c9439146">Regulation down, deals up</h2>Federal Trade Commissioner Lina Khan, who has launched investigations into corporate price-gouging, will likely be one of the first to go under a new Trump administration, Saunders said.In place of her aggressive antitrust posture, a more deal-friendly FTC is likely to emerge, he added.Mergers like the one proposed between Kroger and Albertsons could find a more receptive audience in Washington, and other consolidations may soon follow.While a Republican administration is usually considered to be more business-friendly, Walton said it might not always be so straightforward under Trump."It can wax and wane to whatever the flavor of the month is in terms of where his administration wants to focus or who he wants to benefit," he said.

What Trump's win means for retail giants like Walmart, Target, and Costco

<ul class="summary-list"><li>China's stock investors and watchers are actively discussing the markets before they reopen.</li><li>China released a stimulus blitz a week before the National Day break, sending downtrodden markets on a tear.</li></ul>China's investors are looking forward to some stock market action after the country's weeklong National Day break.On Monday — a day ahead of the mainland's markets reopening — China's Weibo microblog was abuzz with talking about what the markets may hold after a hot run following Beijing's stimulus blitz on September 24.China's domestic stock markets are dominated by retail traders, who number over 200 million and account for about <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.troweprice.com/financial-intermediary/sg/en/thinking/articles/2024/q2/chinas-economy-enters-a-new-cycle-unveiling-fresh-opportunities-apac.html">70% of trading volume.</a>China's stimulus measures include interest rate cuts and 800 billion yuan, or about $114 billion, to support the domestic stock markets. The country's top leadership has also <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-stimulus-fix-economy-xi-jinping-stock-market-2024-10">pledged more stimulus</a> is on the way. The world's second-largest economy is facing multiple challenges including a property crisis, deflation, and high youth unemployment. Mainland China's benchmark <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/index/csi-300">CSI 300 Index</a> closed 17% higher year-to-date on September 31 before the weeklong break — a stark contrast to its <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/china-stock-market-meltdown-brutal-year-explainer-whats-happening-2024-1">meltdown</a> and lackluster performance for much of the year.Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index closed 1.6% higher on Monday. It's up about 35% year-to-date.Trending topics on Weibo included <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://s.weibo.com/weibo?q=%23%E6%B8%AF%E8%82%A1%23&amp;t=31">#Hong Kong stocks,</a> <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://s.weibo.com/weibo?q=%23%E6%9C%AC%E8%BD%AE%E7%89%9B%E5%B8%82%E8%83%BD%E6%8C%81%E7%BB%AD%E5%A4%9A%E4%B9%85%23&amp;t=31">#How long this bull market can run,</a> and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://s.weibo.com/weibo?q=%23%E8%8A%82%E5%90%8EA%E8%82%A1%E5%BC%80%E5%B8%82%E5%B0%86%E6%80%8E%E4%B9%88%E8%B5%B0%23&amp;t=31">#How A-shares will perform after the holiday.</a> A-shares are stocks of Chinese companies listed on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges."I hope the rally can hold for a bit longer, so that I can at least get my initial investment back," wrote one <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://weibo.com/1988800805/OAq5ncUko">Weibo user.</a> The CSI 300 index was down 45% from a 2021 peak until the pivotal announcement in late September.There was also a trending hashtag discussing <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://s.weibo.com/weibo?q=%23%E8%82%A1%E6%B0%91%E6%8B%85%E5%BF%A7A%E8%82%A1%E5%BC%80%E7%9B%98%E7%AC%AC%E4%B8%80%E5%A4%A9%E4%B9%B0%E4%B8%8D%E5%88%B0%23&amp;t=31">those who fear</a> they will not be able to buy A-shares on Tuesday. Before the weeklong break, some brokers and traders reported <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/china-stock-market-rally-economy-stimulus-liqudity-overwhelm-system-2024-9?">delays on the Shanghai Stock Exchange</a> as systems were so overwhelmed by enthusiastic investors and market watchers.Despite the market rally, skeptics about China's economic outlook and markets abound — and Weibo, too, isn't short of naysayers."I don't feel reassured now that the topic is trending," said a Weibo user in a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://s.weibo.com/weibo?q=%23%E6%9C%AC%E8%BD%AE%E7%89%9B%E5%B8%82%E8%83%BD%E6%8C%81%E7%BB%AD%E5%A4%9A%E4%B9%85%23&amp;t=31">thread</a> discussing the likely duration of the bull market that garnered nearly 700 likes in half an hour."An expert said this is not a bull market, but bullshit," wrote a second user."What is the current economic situation in China? Are you all blind? Can't you see it?" asked a third user commenting on <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://weibo.com/1646051850/OAqbWwUIg">another post</a> discussing the market rally.However, given the extent to which China's stocks have sold down before Beijing's stimulus announcement, there may be more upside to come.Goldman Sachs, for one, has upgraded China's stocks to overweight and is forecasting another 15% to 20% upside to Chinese shares.Beijing's "coordinated forceful policy announcements" amid "an oversold, undervalued, and under-positioned market backdrop" are key factors in their reasoning, wrote the bank's analysts wrote in a note published on Saturday.There could also be earnings growth potential for companies should the economy respond positively to Beijing's coordinated stimulus, they wrote."Together, these announcements constitute a more substantial quantum of policy stimulus that contrasts with the sporadic and modest easing measures over the past few years," they wrote, even as they warned that China's macroeconomic challenges remain serious.

China's retail investors are eyeing the stock market reopening after a weeklong break

New Delhi [India], March 12 (ANI): The latest data released by the <keyword id="20070866" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="national-statistical-office" source="keywords">National Statistical Office</keyword> (<keyword id="20067517" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="nso" source="keywords">NSO</keyword>), under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), indicates a slight easing in retail inflation for the month of February 2024. According to the provisional figures provided by the NSO, the retail inflation, based on the Consumer Price Index (General), stood at 5.09 per cent in February 2024. This marks a marginal decrease from 5.10 per cent recorded in January 2024. The combined inflation rate for rural and urban areas came down to 5.09 per cent from the previous month's 5.10 per cent. The data further reveals that the <keyword id="20931744" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="consumer-food-price" source="keywords">Consumer Food Price</keyword> Index (<keyword id="20931745" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cfpi" source="keywords">CFPI</keyword>) witnessed a similar trend, with a slight decrease from 8.30 per cent in January 2024 to 8.21 per cent in February 2024. Both rural and urban areas experienced a dip in food inflation, indicating a marginal relief for consumers across the board. The monthly changes in the General Indices and CFPIs show a negligible increase of 0.16 per cent in the combined CPI (General) and 0.11 per cent in the CFPI from January 2024 to February 2024. This indicates a relatively stable price movement in essential goods and services during the said period. The NSO collects price data from a vast sample size, covering both rural and urban markets across all states and union territories. During February 2024, data was collected from 100 per cent of villages and 98.5 per cent of urban markets. The comprehensive coverage ensures that the inflation figures are representative of the diverse consumption patterns across the country. In terms of the subgroup analysis, notable trends were observed in various categories. Cereals and products, meat and fish, and egg prices showed moderate increases, contributing to the overall inflation rate. On the other hand, certain items like oils and fats experienced a decline in prices, exerting downward pressure on inflation. The NSO has also provided state-wise inflation data, highlighting the varying price dynamics across different regions. States like <keyword id="19896313" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="andhra-pradesh" source="keywords">Andhra Pradesh</keyword>, Telangana, and <keyword id="19896558" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tamil-nadu" source="keywords">Tamil Nadu</keyword> recorded relatively higher inflation rates, while states like Delhi and Maharashtra witnessed a more subdued inflationary environment. Looking ahead, the NSO has announced that the next release of CPI data for March 2024 is scheduled for April 12, 2024. This continued transparency in reporting inflation figures enables policymakers and stakeholders to make informed decisions regarding monetary and fiscal policies. (ANI)

Retail inflation eases to 5.09% in February 2024

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Target recently updated its website to call out "suspected fraud or abuse" of its return policy.</li><li>While the rules haven't changed, the clarification sets the company up to enforce them more strictly.</li></ul>Sometimes it's not enough to read between the lines. More and more, you have to spell it out.In the case of Target, the days of testing the legal and ethical limits of the company's return policy may be numbered.In a recent update to its website, Target now says it "reserves the right to deny returns, refunds and exchanges including but not limited to prevent fraud, suspected fraud or abuse."Not only is the phrasing new (<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/target-one-year-returns-policy-explained-20230-5">Business Insider has closely covered Target's return policy over the years</a>), but neither the word "fraud" nor "abuse" appears in an archived version of the company's return policy from one month ago.A Target spokesperson told BI that while the communication of this point is new, the policy itself hasn't changed, including the one-year backing of all private-label products.Still, while the rules may not be new, the clarification sets the company up to potentially enforce them more strictly and consistently.Return fraud is indeed a concerning problem for retailers across the industry, with the National Retail Federation <a target="_blank" href="https://cdn.nrf.com/sites/default/files/2024-01/Customer_Returns_Report_2023_Final.pdf">estimating</a> $101 billion in related losses last year.But the abuse side of the coin has a more uniquely Bullseye dimension: the trend of shoppers returning piles of worn out Cat &amp; Jack kids' clothes for cash. As one of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/target-cat-and-jack-kids-apparel-millions-of-items-annually-2024-3">Target's most popular store brands</a> (selling more than $3 billion per year), Cat &amp; Jack products are backed by a one-year satisfaction guarantee, which some customers push to its conceptual limits.Users on the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Target/comments/1fk13g1/return_policy_right_to_decline/">r/Target</a> subreddit welcomed the new language, saying it will help service desk employees in dealing with difficult customers.Indeed, a popular euphemism for dirty and destroyed apparel is "well-loved," and grass-stained T-shirts and pants with blown-out knees from a year on the playground don't exactly suggest defective merch."These are people admitting on social media that they were actually quite satisfied, but they are just finding a loophole in this return policy," H Squared Research chief retail analyst Hitha Herzog previously told BI. "If the return policy allows you to do that, I guess you can. But ethically, should you? I wouldn't."Now, with this latest update, Target seems to be saying, "Please don't."If you are a Target worker who wants to share your perspective, please <a target="_blank" href="mailto:dreuter@businessinsider.com">contact Dominick via email</a> or text/call/Signal at 646.768.4750. Responses will be kept confidential, and Business Insider strongly recommends using a personal email and a non-work device when reaching out.

Target wants you to know it can deny your return if it suspects you're abusing its policy

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The US just experienced the warmest "meteorological winter" on record, NOAA said last week.</li><li>Higher temps contributed to several unusual weather events across the country.</li></ul>From December of last year to this February, the US experienced the warmest "meteorological winter" on record, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration <a target="_blank" href="https://www.noaa.gov/news/us-had-its-warmest-winter-on-record">said</a> last week.February alone saw everything from drought, to a wildfire, to a tornado, to a shocking lack of ice covering Midwestern lakes. The season was also the third-warmest February in NOAA's 130-year history.High temps also contributed to one of the wettest winters ever, with <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/extreme-weather-events-nyc-whiplash-big-blizzard-snow-storm-2024-2">heavier-than-normal rain and snowfall</a> in parts of the US, NOAA said.But this is a business story.The unseasonable weather further complicated what is already a somewhat unpredictable period in the retail sales calendar."Q4 is the most weather-dependent," Dick's Sporting Goods CEO Lauren Hobart told investors in November. "We like cold, so I'm hoping for a snowy Thanksgiving and Christmas."For Dick's, warmer weather means that sales skew toward lightweight fleeces rather than pricier down parkas, she said.Hobart's hopes didn't really pan out.In fact, the warm winter was yet another weird season in what Tractor Supply Co. CEO Hal Lawton called "one of the worst setups, every month and every quarter of last year" in terms of favorable weather.In other words, the weather has been so unpredictable over the past year, Lawton isn't bothering with so much weather-related financial guidance this year."I think we played too much weather forecaster last year and are going to get out of that business," he said last week at the Raymond James Institutional Investors Conference.Lowe's saw a lift from the milder conditions as DIY customers stocked up for home projects, but CEO Marvin Ellison said sales fell off in January when the mercury dropped below normal levels and kept shoppers from stores for a period.Now the home improvement retailer is welcoming "early signs of spring," head of merchandising Bill Boltz said, when customers load up on lawn and garden supplies.Meanwhile, 2024 notched its first "billion-dollar disaster" in January due to an East Coast storm and southern tornado outbreak that affected over a dozen states.In the upper Midwest, where the highest differences were recorded, Wisconsin's governor <a target="_blank" href="https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/WIGOV/bulletins/38bd672">issued</a> an emergency declaration for small businesses in the northern part of the state that have lost tourism and other revenue due to the lack of snow and ice this year.Ski areas across the US also faced <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ski-season-resorts-struggle-open-global-warming-climate-crisis-2024-1">low amounts of fresh snow</a>, undoubtedly crimping sales at pro shops and related businesses. A retailer in South Dakota surveyed by the Federal Reserve <a target="_blank" href="https://www.federalreserve.gov/publications/files/BeigeBook_20240117.pdf">said</a> that even though the warmer weather led to higher foot traffic, sales of winter gear and equipment fell.From major complications to minor inconveniences, it's looking like <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/death-of-snow-america-midwest-warm-winter-skiing-climate-change-2024-2">this winter could be a preview of what's to come</a> thanks to the climate crisis.More than half of the world's population "experienced at least one day of temperatures that would be virtually impossible without the influence of carbon pollution," according to a <a target="_blank" href="https://assets.ctfassets.net/cxgxgstp8r5d/1MIMyO7isC5mLwnx5jvGil/51784bf8aff2c6b18ba166d395fa59ae/Climate_Central_Seasonal_Attribution_Report__Dec_2023_-_Feb_2024_.pdf">report</a> from Climate Central, a policy-neutral organization.Businesses generally aim for predictability wherever they can get it, but <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/extreme-weather-biggest-concern-business-leaders-politicians-world-economic-forum-2024-1">a warming planet is likely to give them continued challenges</a>.

You Searched For "National Retail Policy" and got 8 results

Status-quo on interest rate likely, say experts ahead of RBI's policy review

PTI

RAI's Budget wishlist: Lower taxes for individuals, benefits on land rates, electricity

PTI

America's absurd war on 'organized retail crime'

Amy Martyn

What Trump's win means for retail giants like Walmart, Target, and Costco

Dominick Reuter,Nora Redmond

China's retail investors are eyeing the stock market reopening after a weeklong break

Huileng Tan

Retail inflation eases to 5.09% in February 2024

ANI

Target wants you to know it can deny your return if it suspects you're abusing its policy

Dominick Reuter

This winter was weirdly warm — and rough for retailers

Dominick Reuter

Popular Keywords

Buying Guides