Nike Cuts Again, Boots Nears £7bn Sale, Food Prices Peak

What happened to Nike this week is a second round of job cuts and a $2.5 billion cost saving target, as Boots nears a £7bn sale and world food prices hit a near four-year high.

For retail leaders the signal is clear: shoppers are working harder for every basket, and retailers will need to work just as hard to earn it.

Sources: - US consumer: Bloomberg News via PYMNTS, 4 Oct https://www.pymnts.com/consumer-insights/2026/consumers-tap-reserves-and-charity-to-manage-inflation/ - Nike job cuts: RetailDetail, 2 Oct https://www.retaildetail.eu/news/fashion/nike-continues-to-cut-back-jobs-lost-after-sharp-decline-in-china/ - Nike China and NikeSkims: Inside Retail Asia, 3 Oct https://insideretail.asia/2026/10/03/uphill-climb-why-is-nikes-turnaround-still-struggling/ - IKEA: Retail Dive, 2 Oct https://www.retaildive.com/news/ikea-shutters-three-small-format-plan-and-order-stores/832021/ - Reliance and 7-Eleven: ET Retail, 5 Oct https://retail.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/food-entertainment/personal-care-pet-supplies-liquor/reliance-retail-7-eleven-end-a-five-year-india-franchise-deal-as-convenience-stores-struggle/134684029 - Food prices: ESM Magazine, 2 Oct https://www.esmmagazine.com/supply-chain/world-food-prices-near-four-year-high-in-september-un-says-322931 - McCormick: ESM Magazine, 2 Oct https://www.esmmagazine.com/a-brands/mccormicks-price-hikes-spice-up-quarterly-results-despite-sluggish-demand-322921 - Boots: Retail Gazette https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2026/10/weston-family-close