Here are some headlines and notices from the retail, hardware and LBM sectors.

Hardware Retailing

• Retail Spending Surges in July
• 2025 import cargo levels down from 2024
• Credit card swipe fee ruling overturned
• Ace Hardware Home Services releases new survey results
• Ace receives dual ‘Best of the Best’ franchise list honors from Entrepreneur

HBS Dealer

• Heavy on stats, Ace seeks to ‘Elevate’
• What impact will tariffs have on small businesses?
• Do it Best, True Value expand outdoor living lineup with Broil King and Napoleon 
• Do it Best, True Value bolster outdoor living offerings
• Citing duty increases, a Canadian mill suspends operations
• Ace opens K.C. Retail Support Center

LBM Journal

• Canadian lumber duties make a big jump

Retail Dive

• Retail buyers are reacting to tariffs with AI and early orders
• Retail job cuts spike nearly 250% from last year
• The biggest culprit in shrink is in the store — but it’s probably not a criminal

National Retail Federation

• 4 retail industry priorities for sustaining U.S. economic growth